Islam Makhachev stepped into Madison Square Garden with questions hanging over his jump to welterweight. He walked out with a second UFC belt and a fresh lineup of contenders already aiming for his head.
After dominating Jack Della Maddalena to become the new welterweight champion, Makhachev made one thing clear, he plans to rule 170 pounds with the same iron grip he had at lightweight.
Saturday wasn’t just a title fight. It was a statement card for the entire division. Michael Morales and Carlos Prates delivered violent knockouts over top contenders, and suddenly the welterweight picture tightened around the new champion.
Makhachev, who vacated the lightweight strap earlier this year, wasted no time claiming his space as the division’s new standard. When asked who he wants first, he didn’t hesitate.
“Everybody,” Makhachev said at the post-fight press conference. “This is the most competitive division right now. A lot of young guys fought today. Next week Belal Muhammad and Ian Garry fight. Kamaru Usman, Ilia Topuria, all killers want to take my belt. I don’t give it up. I’m working so hard to be double champion, and I’m going to defend my belt many, many times more.”
His performance against Della Maddalena wasn’t flashy, but it was suffocating. He controlled every exchange, shut down the champion’s offense, and turned the fight into a grappling clinic. Topuria wasn’t impressed, calling the main event “boring” and labeling Della Maddalena “a disappointment of a champion.” Makhachev brushed off the noise and doubled down on his approach.
“Jack’s one of the best in this game,” he said. “That’s why I prepared so hard, to make this easy. I tried to get chokes, I tried to get the kimura, but he defended well. I make it easy because I train so hard.”
The rest of the division also made noise. Carlos Prates knocked out former champion Leon Edwards with one clean punch, while Morales stunned Sean Brady with an early TKO. Both men put their names firmly on the contender list.
“I saw both fights,” Makhachev said. “Prates beat a former champion. Clear knockout. Morales too very tough, very young. I’m surprised how this guy who smokes all day beat the former champion.”
After the event, Morales questioned why Makhachev is so confident he can take him down. The champ simply smiled.
“Everybody says the same thing: they’re going to knock me out,” Makhachev said. “If I stay standing, they might. But I’m going to try one time, two times, three times. They’ll defend, but I’ll still go. In welterweight, I don’t think anyone can stop my wrestling.”
As for whether he’ll stay at 170, Makhachev shut down any speculation. He’s here to defend.
“I don’t have to cut much weight,” he said. “And I’m going to defend this belt many, many times.”
A Topuria super fight remains a possibility, though Topuria is expected to defend his lightweight crown next, potentially against Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett. For now, the welterweight division is wide open, and Makhachev sits at the center of a shark tank.
