Jack Della Maddalena Winning Complicates Welterweight Division
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The UFC welterweight division is in a state of flux following Jack Della Maddalena winning the title at UFC 315. His rise has injected fresh energy into the weight class. But as result, a tangled web of storylines at lightweight threaten to keep the top of the 170-pound division in limbo.
Dana White’s plan hinged on who would win the welterweight title fight at UFC 315. If Belal Muhammad had emerged victorious, the scenario was that lightweight champ Islam Makhachev would stay at 155 to defend his title against featherweight king Ilia Topuria.
However, with Della Maddalena winning, the plan would be Islam moving up in weight to chase double-champ status. Thus putting both the lightweight and welterweight divisions on hold while everything plays out.
To add another wrinkle, Ilia Topuria vacated his featherweight title, to move up an challenge for the lightweight title. But, it would remove his chance at becoming a double-champ, a move that surprised fans and raised questions about the UFC’s direction. Meanwhile, reports indicate Islam won’t be required to vacate his own belt.
The lightweight picture then becomes that UFC 317 on June 28—still without a confirmed main event— features Charles Oliveira vs. Topuria, likely for the interim lightweight title. That would free Makhachev to face Jack Della Maddalena later this year.
The Welterweight Contenders Left Waiting
But what about the rest of the welterweight division? Shavkat Rakhmonov, one of the most feared and avoided contenders, seems ready and waiting. He was previously booked to fight Belal Muhammad for the belt, but a bone infection forced Muhammad to withdraw. He accepted and won a fight against Ian Machado Garry who replaced Muhammad on short notice. Now a rebooking between Rakhmonov and Muhammad makes perfect sense—unless the UFC has other plans.
Sean Brady is another wild card. His recent win over former champ Leon Edwards can’t be ignored. He filled in on short notice after Della Maddalena was rebooked for the title fight against Muhammad. Brady put on a masterclass that arguably earned him a title shot. His only loss came against Muhammad, a rematch between them might also make sense if a title fight won’t manifest.
Then there’s Machado Garry, who served as the backup fighter for UFC 315. Though not called upon, he stepped in weeks after he took out surging prospect Carlos Prates on short notice. A possible rematch with Rakhmonov could also make sense. If Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev happens, Machado Garry may simply wait for his shot at gold.
Joaquin Buckley could also make waves, especially if he defeats former champ Kamaru Usman on June 14. He then would also have a strong case for a chance to fight for a championship.
Don’t forget Michael Morales. If the 25-year-old Ecuadorian prospect beats Gilbert Burns in their main event on May 17th, he’ll have positioned himself squarely in the top 10. Welterweight is bursting with new blood, but without a clear path forward, momentum may stall.
The UFC’s welterweight division is going through a changing of the guard. But while the new wave of contenders rises—Della Maddalena, Garry, Morales, Buckley, and more—their progress may be halted as the UFC prioritizes Islam Makhachev’s pursuit of champ-champ status.
The question now becomes: How long will the contenders be willing to wait?
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