Makhachev’s Big Bet: From Lightweight Beast to Welterweight Hopeful
If you know MMA, you know Islam Makhachev is a problem. This dude’s a grappling machine, mentored by the one and only Khabib Nurmagomedov, with a 27-1 record that’s got him sitting pretty as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, according to ESPN. Since snagging the lightweight belt in 2022, he’s been a buzzsaw, taking out names like Alexander Volkanovski, Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano with four title defenses. His ground game? It’s like trying to wrestle a python. His ability to shut down strikers? Pure magic.
But Makhachev’s not content just ruling one division. He’s got his eyes on that double-champ status something only legends like Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes have pulled off. For a while, he’s been dropping hints about moving up to welterweight at 170 pounds, but there was a hitch: his buddy Belal Muhammad was the champ, and Makhachev wasn’t about to throw hands with his brother. That all changed at UFC 315 in Montreal. Jack Della Maddalena, this Aussie striker with hands like sledgehammers, outworked Muhammad to win the welterweight belt in a shocker. Suddenly, the door was wide open for Makhachev.
He didn’t waste a second. Right after the fight, Makhachev hopped on social media, calling out Della Maddalena: “You are not Volk, I will show you different level. Keep my belt clean.” By May 13, Dana White confirmed the news Makhachev was vacating the lightweight title to chase the welterweight strap later in 2025. It’s a gutsy move, no question, but it’s also got Ilia Topuria heated and fans picking sides.
Topuria’s Star Power and the Fight We Were Robbed Of
Now, let’s talk about Ilia Topuria, aka “El Matador.” This guy’s a straight-up superstar 16-0, with knockouts that make your jaw drop. He snatched the featherweight title from Volkanovski in February 2024 with a vicious KO and then starched Max Holloway later that year. Topuria’s got power, submissions, and a mouth that keeps the hype train rolling. Fans love him, and the UFC sees dollar signs. But cutting to 145 pounds was killing him, so in early 2025, he said peace out to the featherweight belt and moved up to lightweight, gunning for Makhachev’s crown.
Topuria wasn’t just looking to win the lightweight title he wanted to take Makhachev’s soul. He was relentless, trash-talking the champ every chance he got, saying he’d sleep him with one punch. In a March 2025 tweet, he went off: “I don’t think he’ll even touch my legs, because the first thing he feels, he’ll want me to send him back to Russia.” The MMA world was hyped. Makhachev’s wrestling versus Topuria’s dynamite hands? That’s a pay-per-view dream. Everyone thought it was locked in for UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, during International Fight Week.
But Makhachev wasn’t feeling it. He kept saying Topuria, a former featherweight, needed to earn his stripes at 155 first. Having already smashed Volkanovski another featherweight twice, Makhachev wasn’t jazzed about facing another “little guy.” In January 2025, he posted on X: “Topuria doesn’t make sense. For what? For belt, for money. I have money, I don’t need. I need the second belt.” That was a hint he was already dreaming bigger, and it set the stage for the chaos we’re seeing now.
The Beef: Topuria Says Makhachev’s Ducking Him
When Makhachev vacated the lightweight title, the UFC scrambled and booked Topuria against Charles Oliveira for the vacant belt at UFC 317. Don’t get me wrong Topuria vs. Oliveira is gonna be wild, with Topuria’s power clashing against Oliveira’s slick submissions. But it’s not the Makhachev fight we were all salivating over. Topuria, who was promised a title shot after giving up his featherweight belt, felt like he got played. He let loose on social media: “On June 28, another dream will come true. I’ll be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles, my apologies in advance… It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away.” In interviews, he called Makhachev a “hypocrite” for bailing on the lightweight belt after saying he’d keep it, even if he moved up.
Topuria’s “ran away” comment hit like a haymaker. Some fans and fighters are backing him, saying Makhachev’s dodging a real threat. Arman Tsarukyan, the No. 1 lightweight contender, stirred the pot on Red Corner MMA: “Topuria is short. Islam would have a hard time going to the legs… He hits hard. He can knock out Makhachev at any time.” Tsarukyan’s got a point—Topuria’s low center of gravity makes takedowns tough, and his punches could turn out the lights. X is blowing up with fans split down the middle: some are all in on Topuria’s bravado, while others say Makhachev’s just picking a smarter fight.
Makhachev’s crew, though, is unfazed. They’re like, “He’s earned this.” After steamrolling the lightweight division, why shouldn’t he chase a second belt? Michael Bisping, UFC royalty, summed it up on YouTube: “Because he’s such a great champion, because he’s taken short-notice fights, because he’s the most successful lightweight on planet Earth in the history of the sport, there ain’t going to be any crazy talks of stripping Islam Makhachev.” Fans on X are pointing out that Makhachev only moved up because Muhammad lost the welterweight title, opening a path he couldn’t take before.
The UFC’s Juggling Act and Fan Freakout
The UFC’s in a pickle. Letting Makhachev go for double-champ glory is classic UFC they’ve done it with McGregor, Jones, you name it. But Topuria’s a cash cow, and a Makhachev fight could’ve been a monster draw. By siding with Makhachev’s welterweight dreams, they might’ve fumbled a bigger bag. Newsweek said on May 12, 2025, that the UFC’s delay in setting UFC 317’s main event caused some chaos, with fighters needing time to train.
Fans are losing it on X. One post summed up the heartbreak: “Me watching MMA lose Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev #UFC315,” with a crying emoji. Others are stoked for Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena. There’s also some shade about fairness Topuria had to give up his featherweight belt, but Makhachev was talking about holding both if he won at 170. That’s got Topuria’s fans crying foul.
What’s Next for the Divisions?
Makhachev’s move is shaking things up big time. At lightweight, Topuria vs. Oliveira is a banger waiting to happen. Topuria’s got the edge with his undefeated run and KO streak, but Oliveira’s a vet who can catch you in a choke out of nowhere. Whoever wins could face Tsarukyan or Justin Gaethje next, so the division’s still stacked. But let’s be real Makhachev’s shadow looms large.
At welterweight, Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena is gonna be nuts. It’s wrestler versus striker, with Della Maddalena’s crisp boxing up against Makhachev’s relentless pressure. If Makhachev wins, he’s in the double-champ club, and his legacy’s untouchable. If he loses, though, people are gonna say he should’ve stayed and fought Topuria.
The Bottom Line: Drama That’s Got Us Hooked
Makhachev’s welterweight leap and the beef with Topuria are why we love the UFC. Makhachev’s chasing history, and you gotta respect the hustle he’s dominated lightweight and wants that second belt. Topuria’s got every right to be mad; he was ready to throw down with the best. As UFC 317 gets closer, we’re all watching to see if Topuria can snag the lightweight title and if Makhachev can conquer welterweight. This drama’s got us glued to our screens, and it’s a reminder that in the UFC, every move’s a spark that sets the whole place on fire.
If you know MMA, you know Islam Makhachev is a problem. This dude’s a grappling machine, mentored by the one and only Khabib Nurmagomedov, with a 27-1 record that’s got him sitting pretty as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, according to ESPN. Since snagging the lightweight belt in 2022, he’s been a buzzsaw, taking out names like Alexander Volkanovski, Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano with four title defenses. His ground game? It’s like trying to wrestle a python. His ability to shut down strikers? Pure magic.
But Makhachev’s not content just ruling one division. He’s got his eyes on that double-champ status something only legends like Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes have pulled off. For a while, he’s been dropping hints about moving up to welterweight at 170 pounds, but there was a hitch: his buddy Belal Muhammad was the champ, and Makhachev wasn’t about to throw hands with his brother. That all changed at UFC 315 in Montreal. Jack Della Maddalena, this Aussie striker with hands like sledgehammers, outworked Muhammad to win the welterweight belt in a shocker. Suddenly, the door was wide open for Makhachev.
He didn’t waste a second. Right after the fight, Makhachev hopped on social media, calling out Della Maddalena: “You are not Volk, I will show you different level. Keep my belt clean.” By May 13, Dana White confirmed the news Makhachev was vacating the lightweight title to chase the welterweight strap later in 2025. It’s a gutsy move, no question, but it’s also got Ilia Topuria heated and fans picking sides.
Topuria’s Star Power and the Fight We Were Robbed Of
Now, let’s talk about Ilia Topuria, aka “El Matador.” This guy’s a straight-up superstar 16-0, with knockouts that make your jaw drop. He snatched the featherweight title from Volkanovski in February 2024 with a vicious KO and then starched Max Holloway later that year. Topuria’s got power, submissions, and a mouth that keeps the hype train rolling. Fans love him, and the UFC sees dollar signs. But cutting to 145 pounds was killing him, so in early 2025, he said peace out to the featherweight belt and moved up to lightweight, gunning for Makhachev’s crown.
Topuria wasn’t just looking to win the lightweight title he wanted to take Makhachev’s soul. He was relentless, trash-talking the champ every chance he got, saying he’d sleep him with one punch. In a March 2025 tweet, he went off: “I don’t think he’ll even touch my legs, because the first thing he feels, he’ll want me to send him back to Russia.” The MMA world was hyped. Makhachev’s wrestling versus Topuria’s dynamite hands? That’s a pay-per-view dream. Everyone thought it was locked in for UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, during International Fight Week.
But Makhachev wasn’t feeling it. He kept saying Topuria, a former featherweight, needed to earn his stripes at 155 first. Having already smashed Volkanovski another featherweight twice, Makhachev wasn’t jazzed about facing another “little guy.” In January 2025, he posted on X: “Topuria doesn’t make sense. For what? For belt, for money. I have money, I don’t need. I need the second belt.” That was a hint he was already dreaming bigger, and it set the stage for the chaos we’re seeing now.
The Beef: Topuria Says Makhachev’s Ducking Him
When Makhachev vacated the lightweight title, the UFC scrambled and booked Topuria against Charles Oliveira for the vacant belt at UFC 317. Don’t get me wrong Topuria vs. Oliveira is gonna be wild, with Topuria’s power clashing against Oliveira’s slick submissions. But it’s not the Makhachev fight we were all salivating over. Topuria, who was promised a title shot after giving up his featherweight belt, felt like he got played. He let loose on social media: “On June 28, another dream will come true. I’ll be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles, my apologies in advance… It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away.” In interviews, he called Makhachev a “hypocrite” for bailing on the lightweight belt after saying he’d keep it, even if he moved up.
Topuria’s “ran away” comment hit like a haymaker. Some fans and fighters are backing him, saying Makhachev’s dodging a real threat. Arman Tsarukyan, the No. 1 lightweight contender, stirred the pot on Red Corner MMA: “Topuria is short. Islam would have a hard time going to the legs… He hits hard. He can knock out Makhachev at any time.” Tsarukyan’s got a point—Topuria’s low center of gravity makes takedowns tough, and his punches could turn out the lights. X is blowing up with fans split down the middle: some are all in on Topuria’s bravado, while others say Makhachev’s just picking a smarter fight.
Makhachev’s crew, though, is unfazed. They’re like, “He’s earned this.” After steamrolling the lightweight division, why shouldn’t he chase a second belt? Michael Bisping, UFC royalty, summed it up on YouTube: “Because he’s such a great champion, because he’s taken short-notice fights, because he’s the most successful lightweight on planet Earth in the history of the sport, there ain’t going to be any crazy talks of stripping Islam Makhachev.” Fans on X are pointing out that Makhachev only moved up because Muhammad lost the welterweight title, opening a path he couldn’t take before.
The UFC’s Juggling Act and Fan Freakout
The UFC’s in a pickle. Letting Makhachev go for double-champ glory is classic UFC they’ve done it with McGregor, Jones, you name it. But Topuria’s a cash cow, and a Makhachev fight could’ve been a monster draw. By siding with Makhachev’s welterweight dreams, they might’ve fumbled a bigger bag. Newsweek said on May 12, 2025, that the UFC’s delay in setting UFC 317’s main event caused some chaos, with fighters needing time to train.
Fans are losing it on X. One post summed up the heartbreak: “Me watching MMA lose Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev #UFC315,” with a crying emoji. Others are stoked for Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena. There’s also some shade about fairness Topuria had to give up his featherweight belt, but Makhachev was talking about holding both if he won at 170. That’s got Topuria’s fans crying foul.
What’s Next for the Divisions?
Makhachev’s move is shaking things up big time. At lightweight, Topuria vs. Oliveira is a banger waiting to happen. Topuria’s got the edge with his undefeated run and KO streak, but Oliveira’s a vet who can catch you in a choke out of nowhere. Whoever wins could face Tsarukyan or Justin Gaethje next, so the division’s still stacked. But let’s be real Makhachev’s shadow looms large.
At welterweight, Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena is gonna be nuts. It’s wrestler versus striker, with Della Maddalena’s crisp boxing up against Makhachev’s relentless pressure. If Makhachev wins, he’s in the double-champ club, and his legacy’s untouchable. If he loses, though, people are gonna say he should’ve stayed and fought Topuria.
The Bottom Line: Drama That’s Got Us Hooked
Makhachev’s welterweight leap and the beef with Topuria are why we love the UFC. Makhachev’s chasing history, and you gotta respect the hustle he’s dominated lightweight and wants that second belt. Topuria’s got every right to be mad; he was ready to throw down with the best. As UFC 317 gets closer, we’re all watching to see if Topuria can snag the lightweight title and if Makhachev can conquer welterweight. This drama’s got us glued to our screens, and it’s a reminder that in the UFC, every move’s a spark that sets the whole place on fire.
