When Jack Della Maddalena dethroned Belal Muhammad to claim the welterweight crown at UFC 315, a message echoed all the way to the mountains of Dagestan—one that surely lit a fire in Team Khabib. Why? Because JDM’s win opened the door for Islam Makhachev’s two-division dream. “Obviously, Islam, what he’s done, I think he deserves the shot if he wants to step up,” Della Maddalena stated, welcoming the superfight. Amidst the title shake-up, the division’s top contenders have been pushed aside—until Sean Brady stepped in with a move that could completely reshape the 170-pound timeline.
After defeating Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night 255, Brady became one of the top contenders for the title shot. However, the Islam Makhachev equation remains a concern not only for him but also for other contenders aiming for the championship. When asked about a potential Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena fight, Brady voiced his concern about the Dagestani’s welterweight jump, “I mean, like you guys said, I would rather see him stay where he’s at, you know, and kind of clean out 155. The whole double champ thing is hard, especially when two of his fights were against Volkanovski.”
He further added, “And then he does have Dustin Poirier, but there are still guys at 155. And then you have Ilia trying to come up. But then again, on the other hand, he’s done so much. If he wants to move up, if he’s going to move up, is he going to stay there, though? Because if not, now you’re holding up two divisions. So if he’s going to move up, then me Ian are fighting.”
Sean Brady was not originally in the title picture, as Leon Edwards was scheduled to face Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Fight Night 255. However, when it was confirmed that Shavkat Rakhmonov would not be able to fight Belal Muhammad due to injury, the UFC reshuffled the matchups, pitching the Australian against Muhammad and pairing Brady with Edwards. It’s important to note that this was a short-notice fight for Brady. Despite his short-notice fight, the 18-1 fighter submitted Edwards in a guillotine choke in the fourth round to claim the victory.
On the other hand, Ian Garry has just defeated ‘Fighting Nerd’ sensation Carlos Prates and is once again in the title picture. Sean Brady wants to fight Garry, but the Irishman has demanded a title shot from the UFC.
“If [Islam] is gonna move up, then me and Ian are fighting. I know that’s the fight to make. That’s just the way I see it.”
Who’s down for Sean Brady x Ian Machado Garry? pic.twitter.com/GfEfPBjpM9
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 12, 2025
The welterweight division is currently undergoing a metamorphosis—Rakhmonov is injured, several top contenders are in the mix, and the Makhachev dilemma adds further complexity. With so many factors at play, this could turn into a major headache for Dana White as well. However, how will Makhachev play against Della Maddalena? Well, a former UFC welterweight title challenger has the answer to this question.
Is Islam Makhachev destined for doom in the welterweight division?
Islam Makhachev is pound-for-pound one of the most skilled fighters to have ever embraced the Octagon, but can he fare better than any top contenders against Jack Della Maddalena? Welterweight fighter Stephen Thompson has his doubts about the equation. While having a conversation with Submission Radio, the 42-year-old shared his honest opinion about the move.
“I don’t know, man, when you’re going up to the welterweight division, those are some big boys. And I know Islam Makhachev walks around fairly heavy, but a lot of these 170s walk around really heavy. I mean, I think like the height, I think they might be the same height. I think JDM might be a little taller, but when it comes to those guys and their strength, Islam, I think Islam is going to have a tough time,” said Thompson.
According to the fellow welterweight fighter, size and strength will play a major role in their fight, and he believes that Islam Makhachev might be at a disadvantage. “Now, do I think he could get it done? Yes. I think he’s that good of a grappler, but like I said, JDM has faced some of the best welterweight grapplers and wrestlers in the division, Belal being one of them. I think it’s going to be a tough night for him,” Thompson further added.
Islam Makhachev has faced the best lightweights in his division, but the 170 lbs weight class is a beast of its own. We might witness the Dagestani struggle in his battle against the Aussie. Given that, what are your thoughts on their matchup? Share your opinion in the comments below.
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