Islam Makhachev is signed up for Super Fight. Not the person many people expected.
UFC CEO Dana White announced Tuesday that the lightweight champion will open his belt and jump into the 170-pound division to face newly crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Madalena.
The move has been rumored for months, and Makhachev wanted to pursue his second title, but he has not sacrificed his best friend, Beral Muhammad. This was not a problem last Saturday when Muhammad lost his welterweight title to Della Madalena’s title and cleared the path of Makhachev, who was supposed to compete against Della Madalena on an undecided day and place.
Matchups allow Makhachev to add to the pound pound legacy and Dera Maddalena to reach a new level of stardom, but not everyone is excited that Makhachev is leaving the lightweight division. Undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topria vacated the title of chasing glory at 155 pounds this February, and fight fans suddenly approached seeing the two best fighters in the world.
Instead, Makhachev fought Della Madalena and Topria met Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 on June 28th, winning the vacant lightweight title.
Check out the reactions to the two matchups below.