Islam Makhachev is set to vacate his UFC lightweight championship and move up in weight class to challenge the current welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena, later this year. As a direct result of this decision, Ilia Topuria will now face Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound title. This highly anticipated bout is scheduled to headline UFC 317 next month, serving as the main event for International Fight Week. This move raises the question: Was vacating the title the most strategic choice for Makhachev?
A recent discussion on the “Between the Links” program addressed Dana White`s significant announcements impacting both the lightweight and welterweight divisions, exploring their potential future landscape. Additional topics covered included the repercussions of UFC 315, the likely next steps for Belal Muhammad after his recent loss to JDM, Dricus du Plessis`s upcoming middleweight title defense against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago, and the details of the next UFC Apex event featuring Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales, among other notable MMA news.
