Islam Makhachev is set to make a significant return to the octagon nearly a year after capturing the lightweight title. The Russian fighter achieved this milestone in January and has spent the past months contemplating his next steps. Although moving up to the welterweight division seemed like a natural progression, there was a major obstacle: his close friend, Belal Muhammad, was the reigning 170-pound champion, and Makhachev was unwilling to face him. However, following Muhammad’s recent loss of the belt, Makhachev is ready to pursue his ambitions in the welterweight division.
The exciting clash will take place on Saturday night, where Makhachev will make his welterweight debut against Jack Della Maddalena at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Reflecting on Makhachev’s journey, back in January, he was scheduled for a high-profile rematch against Arman Tsarukyan, who was the top contender for the lightweight title. Unfortunately, Tsarukyan sustained a back injury just days before the fight, and Renato Moicano stepped in as a late replacement. Makhachev showcased his skill by submitting Moicano in the first round, marking his fifth successful title defense and solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest lightweight champions in history.
As a naturally larger lightweight, Makhachev found the struggle to meet the 155-pound limit increasingly challenging, often appearing drained during weigh-ins. This made a transition to welterweight seem inevitable, but he refrained from doing so while Muhammad held the title, as both fighters have a longstanding friendship and training history.
With Muhammad’s title defense against Della Maddalena in May resulting in a loss for Belal, Makhachev saw the opportunity to ascend to the welterweight ranks. His move comes after a prolonged layoff, as Della Maddalena needed time to recover before facing Makhachev. Despite having not fought in 10 months, Makhachev appears to have come back stronger than ever, reportedly adding muscle mass through training and nutrition adjustments.
As Makhachev prepares to enter this new phase of his career, fans eagerly anticipate whether he can secure a victory and claim the title in a new weight class, paving the way for his achievement as a two-division champion. This exciting matchup promises to be a pivotal moment not just for Makhachev but also for the welterweight division.