After several months of anticipation, Islam Makhachev’s UFC welterweight title challenge has finally been announced.
This past May, it was shockingly announced that former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was vacating his title in pursuit of a move up to the welterweight division.
The news came not long after Jack Della Maddalena dethroned Belal Muhammad with a terrific title winning performance at UFC 315, opening the door for Makhachev’s move up.
Immediately after the fight, Della Maddalena stated that he was open to a title fight against the Russian, looking to get revenge for his countryman Alexander Volkanovski, who suffered two losses to Makhachev.
Dana White announces Della Maddalena vs Makhachev for UFC 322
After several months of talks between the two, UFC boss Dana White took to Instagram live this Thursday to finally announce the fight, which will take place at UFC 322 on November 15.
With it having been clear that Della Maddalena vs Makhachev would come next, the Russian’s head coach Khabib Nurmagomedov claimed that Della Maddalena will be the most dangerous fight of Makhachev’s career.
Over the past few weeks, Makhachev has been more active on social media, posting videos of his training sessions, and he has noticeably increased in size ahead of his debut at 170lbs.
And with him ramping up his training ahead of his welterweight title fight, the former lightweight champion recently dropped his training partner with a brutal body shot.
Although he has the extremely tough task of dethroning Della Maddalena, Makhachev’s manager has already talked about a potential future welterweight title fight against Khamzat Chimaev, stating that it is unlikely to happen.
Dana White also announces champion vs champion fight
In his announcement, White also announced that UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will defend her belt against the women’s strawweight champion, Zhang Weili.
Weili has officially vacated her 115lb title in pursuit of a fight against Shevchenko and it will take place as the co-main event on what looks to be a UFC 322 super card.