One of the most important title fights in recent memory takes place at UFC 315.
UFC 315 goes down this Saturday from Montreal, Canada with the world’s best welterweights taking center stage. Champion Belal Muhammad is slated to defend his title against Jack Della Maddalena, the #5-ranked contender in the five-round main event.
Not only will Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena decide the future of the welterweight division but also the weight class below: lightweight.
Former UFC Champion and lightweight title-hopeful Ilia Topuria and CEO Dana White both confirmed the UFC 315 headliner would determine lightweight champ Islam Makhachev’s next fight, whether it’s him moving up to fight Della Maddalena or defending his 155lb belt with a Muhammad win.
Whatever happens, Makhachev seems to be on the same page with the UFC brass after a meeting with UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell.
Islam Makhachev says he won’t vacate title regardless of UFC 315 outcome
Despite much fanfare around a lightweight super-fight between him and the oncoming Topuria, Makhachev has been patiently waiting on Muhammad’s next fight to decide if he’ll go for a second belt or not.
Eyeing a potential future at 170lbs, Makhachev isn’t willing to leave behind his lightweight belt just yet.
“This Saturdays main event will define what’s my next move is,” Makhachev wrote on X on Friday.
“But regardless of outcome [of] that fight, I’m not going to vacate my lightweight title!” Makhachev added.
“We might get real contender there!”
Speaking of contenders, there’s quite a few waiting for him in the lightweight division…
Ilia Topuria could fight for interim lightweight gold in the meantime
If Jack Della Maddalena dethrones Belal Muhammad this weekend, lightweight could be in for a logjam.
Former UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria says the UFC promised him an immediate title shot when he decided to move up a weight class, insisting he will only fight for the belt.
Topuria recently name-dropped Charles Oliveira as someone he could be facing for the vacant belt but with Makhachev not willing to relinquish, Topuria and Oliveira could potentially fight for interim gold while Makhachev tries to become a two-division champion.
While he may not be the biggest fan of fighting Topuria, that’s more than likely Makhachev’s next opponent if Muhammad gets his hand raised at UFC 315.
Makhachev vs. Topuria would be one of the biggest title fights in UFC history with both fighters on a combined 31-fight win streak.
As for the rest of the division, Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker will likely have to fight it out for a title shot.