Makhachev wants to be double champ after Della Maddalena’s UFC 315 win
Jack Della Maddalena defeating Belal Muhammad to become the new undisputed UFC welterweight champion may end up having a ripple effect in two divisions.
Dana White was in Montreal this week and at the pre-fight press conference said Saturday’s result would determine the next opponent for the current lightweight champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the UFC roster, Islam Makhachev.
“Time to become a double champion,” Makhachev posted to social media minutes after the UFC 315 main event concluded. “Let’s go.”
The thinking heading into the event was if Muhammad had defended the title, the UFC would put together a Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria lightweight title fight, which would headline UFC 317 at International Fight Week in the summer.
Muhammad had previously stated he wasn’t interested in facing Makhachev since the two are friendly and have trained together in the past. That’s why a Muhammad vs. Makhachev was not an option.
On the other hand, if a new champ was crowned then Makhachev, who has previously expressed an interest in attaining a second title in a different weight class, would move up to the 170-pound division to challenge Della Maddalena and then Topuria would instead face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
The organization has yet to announce the main event for the upcoming UFC 317, which is scheduled for late June in Las Vegas.
White wrapped the belt around Della Maddalena’s waist, however the UFC president did not attend the post-fight press conference. The UFC’s senior VP of International and Content, Dave Shaw, did instead.
“I don’t know what the decision is, but I suspect you’ll hear more this week,” Shaw said.
Makhachev is 27-1 with 15 consecutive victories and is the No. 1-ranked fighter on the UFC’s pound-for-pound list.
Two of Makhachev’s lightweight title defences were against Alexander Volkanovski who attempted to become a two-weight champion on two occasions but lost to Makhachev both times.
“I mean it’s a beautiful challenge. He’s pound-for-pound No. 1. I’m gonna get him back for Volk,” Della Maddalena said in the cage when asked about a possible fight with Makhachev while referencing his fellow Australian.
