UFC pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev wants to face Jack Della Maddalena in a legacy-altering venue.
Islam Makhachev will vacate the UFC lightweight championship this weekend when Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira clash this Saturday at UFC 317. Makhachev, who hasn’t fought since finishing Renato Moicano at UFC 311, announced his intended move to welterweight almost immediately after UFC 315.
Jack Della Maddalena defeated Makhachev’s longtime friend and teammate, Belal Muhammad, in the UFC 315 main event last month. Maddalena invited a Makhachev showdown in Australia, as he requested to UFC CEO Dana White in post-event talks.
But as Makhachev’s manager hinted just weeks ago, the soon-to-be former lightweight champion has other plans in mind.
Islam Makhachev wants Jack Della Maddalena at ‘legendary’ venue
Makhachev has competed in Abu Dhabi numerous times in his career, including when he won the then-vacant UFC lightweight belt over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280. Some have speculated that the UFC matchmakers could attempt to book Makhachev vs. Maddalena for the UFC’s annual Abu Dhabi pay-per-view card in October.
Makhachev wants to do something different for his chance at making UFC history in earning a second title, and wants a massive platform to compete against Maddalena.
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie‘s Mike Bohn, Makhachev shared a recent conversation he had with White about his preferred destination for the Maddalena showdown.
“I asked Dana [White] if we have an opportunity to fight in Madison Square Garden,” Makhachev revealed.
“It would be an honor for me to fight in the biggest arena for MMA and boxing. Legendary arena. They’re not fighting for the money or for the victory, they’re fighting there for the legacy.
“And I also want to fight there for my legacy, to be a double champion in Madison Square Garden.”
As of this writing, White and the matchmakers haven’t announced a targeted date and venue for Makhachev’s welterweight return. After Jon Jones’s abrupt retirement last weekend, the UFC has options for how it wants to fill the rest of 2025’s pay-per-view slots.
The UFC’s most-recent card at Madison Square Garden featured Jones’s win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Makhachev has never competed at Madison Square Garden in his career.
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Islam Makhachev doesn’t rule out lightweight return after double-champ pursuit
After facing Maddalena later this year, Makhachev isn’t ruling out returning to the lightweight division for a big-money booking. If Topuria defeats Oliveira this weekend, he’ll likely call out Makhachev, which could potentially lure the former lightweight king back to his old stomping grounds.
The UFC is no longer keen on letting fighters hold two belts simultaneously, after Conor McGregor and Henry Cejudo‘s two-weight world champion reigns. Makhachev is looking to become the latest to secure multiple titles.
Don’t be surprised if Makhachev has a lot to say about the UFC 317 main event this weekend as he plots his welterweight comeback fight.
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