Islam Makhachev has finally acknowledged the worst-kept secret in MMA at the moment. There were a lot of speculations about the lightweight champ’s next move and sources claimed that the Dagestani was waiting for the result of the UFC 315 Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena clash this weekend to decide on his next move. And it turns out those reports were a hundred percent correct.
“This Saturdays main event will define what’s my next move is. But regardless of outcome that fight, I’m not going to vacate my lightweight title! We might get real contender there!” Makhachev wrote in an X post.
So why is the lightweight champ waiting for the result of the UFC 315 main event to decide on his next move at all? Well, because the Makhachkala native desperately wants to be a two-division champ. But right now, his good friend Belal Muhammad holds the 170-pound title. So if the Palestinian-American drops his title to ‘JDM’ this weekend, Makhachev would vacate the lightweight title, move up to 170 and fight Della Maddalena for the title there. If not, he is expected to face Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 on June 28 atop the International Fight Week Card for a fifth lightweight title defense.
This Saturdays main event will define what’s my next move is. But regardless of outcome that fight, I’m not going to vacate my lightweight title! We might get real contender there! pic.twitter.com/c57plqZKcu
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) May 9, 2025
(More to follow…)
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