Islam Makhachev has larger issues on his thoughts than the place he sits within the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
The now former UFC light-weight champion was displaced from his No. 1 rating after Ilia Topuria scored a vicious knockout over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to assert the vacant title at 155 kilos. That win helped Topuria turn out to be a two-division champion after beforehand profitable and defending the featherweight crown.
Whereas Makhachev has been cemented atop these rankings for fairly a while, he’s not too anxious about Topuria usurping him because the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter as a result of he understands how this sport works.
“Nicely, it’s advertising and marketing,” Makhachev advised UFC Eurasia in Abu Dhabi. “They do it on goal to [hype] up this combat that individuals have been already excited by. This implies they’re doing the proper factor. We are going to combat for first place.”
Makhachev was anticipated to defend the light-weight title in opposition to Topuria had his buddy and frequent coaching accomplice Belal Muhammad profitable defended his welterweight belt again in Could. Ultimately, Muhammad suffered a loss to present champion Jack Della Maddalena, which opened the door for Makhachev to lastly transfer to 170 kilos so he may additionally earn the chance to turn out to be a two-division champion.
Whereas a combat in opposition to Topuria may nonetheless occur down the highway, Makhachev has his sights set on Della Maddalena and now he’s simply ready for a number of last particulars to get sorted out so the matchup turns into official.
“Nicely, we have already got 90 p.c of the settlement,” Makhachev mentioned concerning the combat. “Most likely in November.”
November stands because the annual date for the UFC to land in New York Metropolis with an occasion on the historic Madison Sq. Backyard area. Rumors have swirled for weeks that Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena may probably headline that occasion and now the Dagestan native has confirmed as a lot.
Nothing is finalized but nevertheless it’s anticipated that the welterweight title combat occurs earlier than the top of 2025 and there are solely two extra pay-per-view occasions that also want headliners. A kind of is the UFC card in New York Metropolis with one last occasion deliberate in December, almost definitely in Las Vegas.
