Islam Makhachev isn’t the only one who believes he’s chasing a bigger challenge by departing the lightweight division before Ilia Topuria’s arrival.
In early May, UFC CEO Dana White announced Makhachev’s title vacation, with the Dagestani moving up to chase two-division glory.
The champ’s decision to pursue a second title up at welterweight means Ilia Topuria will fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound crown at UFC 317 on June 28.
With ‘El Matador’ announcing his decision to change weight classes earlier in the year, Topuria has branded Makhachev a “coward,” alleging that the Russian star is dodging their matchup.
One former fighter, however, doesn’t think that could possibly make sense given who the lightweight kingpin will likely face in his first fight at 170 pounds.
Matt Brown says Islam Makhachev is running toward a challenge by targeting Jack Della Maddalena over Ilia Topuria
During an episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer on MMA Fighting, welterweight veteran Matt Brown provided his two cents on the ongoing debate.
‘The Immortal’ placed himself in the corner of Makhachev, rejecting the notion that the 33-year-old ‘ducked’ Topuria.
The deciding factor for Brown was the fact that Makhachev has set his sights on newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena, whom the American described as a larger version of Topuria.
“I’m very surprised people are saying that [Makhachev ducked Topuria],” Brown said. “That’s a very silly thing to say. Islam ducking someone, that sentence just doesn’t make sense, those words. I just don’t see that at all.
“As a matter of fact, Jack Della Maddalena is sort of a bigger version of Ilia in some respects. Great boxers with good power. That’s kind of their forte, great boxers with good power.
“It seems kind of counterintuitive to move up a weight class to fight a great boxer with power to duck a smaller guy that’s a great boxer with power?”
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Jack Della Maddalena backed to beat Islam Makhachev by UFC legend
Della Maddalena’s credentials haven’t stopped him from opening as a sizable underdog for his expected first title defense against Makhachev later this year.
Many are tipping Makhachev to accomplish a feat that his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov did not attempt by adding the welterweight gold to his collection.
But one man who is familiar with Della Maddalena’s game, fellow Australian fighter Robert Whittaker, is backing his compatriot to shock the MMA world once again.
“That’s always the question everybody asks when anybody is moving up or down a division; there are so many unknowns involved,” Whittaker said on Submission Radio. “But saying that, I think Islam can do everything that Belal does, but way better.
“I thought Jack handily had the fight, but it was a fight. I don’t think it’ll be an easy fight for Jack, but I believe in Jack; he’s got that X-factor, he’s got that hunger there.
“Just like with Belal [Muhammad], just like with Gilbert Burns, I think he can do the impossible.”
When Della Maddalena and Makhachev do collide, the former will be seeking revenge for the promotion’s other reigning Australian champion, two-time featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski.
The Dagestani got the better of ‘Alexander the Great’ twice in 2024, first by way of a close decision and then with a brutal knockout in their short-notice rematch.
Volkanovski will no doubt be aiding his fellow countryman’s preparation, having shared valuable minutes inside the cage with Makhachev.