The MMA world holds its breath as Khabib Nurmagomedov moves a piece on the UFC chessboard, indicating an unearthed plan. With Islam Makhachev hanging in the balance between two weight classes and fans still reeling from recent championship changes, ‘The Eagle’ has made a subtle yet deliberate move that has sparked buzz online. No words. No press conference. Just one Instagram story may be louder than anything spoken aloud.
The timing could not be more deliberate. Just days after Islam Makhachev was reported to have vacated his UFC lightweight title, paving the way for a move up to welterweight, Khabib Nurmagomedov posted a mysterious Instagram story. What was in that story? Just a photo of him standing next to Mick Maynard, one of the UFC’s most powerful decision-makers and a core member of Team Dana White.
The timing of the picture coincides with the recent talking point of the MMA world that Islam Makhachev would face recently crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena in his next fight. This is a clash that fans have been waiting for, and being the money-maker Dana White is, the UFC boss surely knows that.
Though neither site nor date has been verified, however, early rumors pointed to a massive Abu Dhabi event in October 2025—a place historically suited to Makhachev and the Dagestani faction. The stars are aligning, and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s silent gesture could be the catalyst that sets things in motion.
Meanwhile, Della Maddalena is not avoiding the challenge. Following a dominating victory over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, the Australian champion has made it clear that he is ready. Belal Muhammad, in his own words, was simply a warm-up for what was to come. “Islam is… a better version of Belal,” explained Della Maddalena to ESPN. “More dangerous grappling, better striking, more championship experience.”
January 27, 2022, MIAMI, FL, Miami, Florida, United States: MIAMI, FL- JANUARY 27: Khabib Nurmagomedov speaks with the press during the Eagle FC 44 – Spong vs Kharitonov event at FLX Cast Arena on January 27, 2022 in MIAMI, FL, United States. MIAMI, FL United States – ZUMAp175 20220127_zsa_p175_041 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
The welterweight champion still wants that smoke. Now that Khabib Nurmagomedov is already hanging out with Team Dana White, as revealed in the story, chances are that he may soon get a face-to-face meeting with the head honcho to get the fight contracts that fulfill Makhachev’s dream of ruling a new division. But where can the next fight be? Well, a few names have been revealed by Team Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Team Khabib Nurmagomedov name-drops possible locations for Dana White’s next big event
It was never just about the fight; it’s about the stage it’s set on. And now that Khabib Nurmagomedov has possibly entered the room where UFC futures are decided, his camp has begun to speak out. Just as fans were wondering if Abu Dhabi will host Islam Makhachev’s title fight, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s right-hand man, Ali Abdelaziz, cut through the noise. According to him, this fight is bigger than Fight Island. “It’s not even going to be in Abu Dhabi,” he said on Submission Radio.
“This is Madison Square Garden or Vegas big.” There’s no mysterious suggestion here, simply a straightforward confirmation that the Dagestani’s welterweight fight will not be held overseas. Instead, Dana White is aiming toward the heart of the UFC’s financial empire. Even Jack Della Maddalena does not seem to mind crossing oceans to protect his treasure. While defending his championship in front of his home crowd in Australia would have been ideal, JDM understands that the UFC will not be holding PPV events in Australia in 2025.
As a result, he is leaning into the common fighter fantasy of fighting under the lights at Madison Square Garden. “That would be pretty cool,” he told ESPN, his eyes already picturing the same floor where several legends of combat sports previously fought. He further added, “There’s been so many [great fights there]; Muhammad Ali fought there, I think [it was] Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier; it’s just been, yeah, a crazy venue. All the greats have fought there; obviously Conor McGregor captured double gold there. It’s obviously a massive venue in a pretty wild city, so it’s a good one to take that No. 1 [pound-for-pound] spot.”
And don’t forget what motivates Dana White and the UFC brass: money and headlines. MSG and Vegas don’t just offer spectacle; they also deliver numbers. The U.S. market remains the UFC’s most lucrative battlefield, with gigantic gates, record-breaking PPV purchases, and top-tier sponsor deals ripe for the taking. A fight between the pound-for-pound ruler and a hungry new champion deserves that stage. For Khabib and team Islam Makhachev, it’s no longer about home soil; it’s about taking Islam’s star power global. Dana White’s decision couldn’t be clearer: set the stage where legends have bled and history always echoes loudest. What do you think? Where will the fight take place? Let us know in the comments.
The post Khabib Nurmagomedov Makes a Move on Dana White’s Team Amid Islam Makhachev’s UFC Title Fight Rumors appeared first on EssentiallySports.