Islam Makhachev is officially stepping up to the welterweight division, giving up his UFC lightweight title to face current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena later this year. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the move, announcing that both fighters have agreed to the bout, though the exact date and venue are yet to be confirmed.
The decision follows Della Maddalena’s recent win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, which ended Muhammad’s title reign. Makhachev had earlier said he would not challenge for the welterweight title while his close friend and teammate Belal Muhammad was champion.
This will be Makhachev’s first appearance at welterweight in the UFC. He is currently on a 15-fight winning streak, with nearly all of those victories coming in the lightweight division.
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Jack Della Maddalena, the newly crowned welterweight champion, holds an 18-fight win streak. He rose through the ranks starting from ‘Dana White’s Contender Series’ and captured the UFC title with his win over Muhammad.
Makhachev is also ranked as the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. His move to welterweight positions him to potentially join the elite group of fighters who have held titles in two different weight classes.
Della Maddalena has welcomed the challenge and has expressed interest in holding the fight in his home country, Australia. While the UFC has not confirmed the location, the idea of an international title bout adds to the anticipation.
This fight brings together two dominant streaks and high-level talents, setting up one of the most awaited matchups in recent UFC history.
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