Islam Makhachev played the waiting game until the welterweight title clash unfolded on May 10 in Montreal. The lightweight king has his sights set on conquering a second division, but UFC 315 was the pivotal moment he needed. With Belal Muhammad dethroned by Jack Della Maddalena, the UFC landscape is primed for seismic shifts.
The buzz is already building around a potential blockbuster showdown between new champion Della Maddalena and Makhachev, who’s eager to avenge his teammate Alexander Volkanovski. But Makhachev’s social media reaction to Muhammad’s loss sparked controversy, drawing sharp criticism. UFC legend Daniel Cormier, however, is having none of it, insisting the lightweight champ doesn’t deserve the backlash.
Makhachev’s hesitation to challenge for the welterweight belt while Muhammad held it stemmed from their shared training history. Della Maddalena’s victory cleared the path for Makhachev’s ambitions, but his post-fight support for Muhammad was called into question by Joaquin Buckley. Buckley accused Makhachev of secretly hoping for his friend’s defeat, pointing to a tweet where Makhachev wrote, “@bullyb170 today were fighting for something bigger than UFC title, he’s fighting for all generation of people. Win or lose, don’t define his legacy.”
Cormier, a close ally from their time at AKA, dismissed Buckley’s claims as opportunistic trolling. “I know Islam, and he’s not the type to root against a friend for personal gain,” Cormier said. “Buckley’s just stirring the pot to snag big fights, from Ian Garry to Makhachev.”
Makhachev’s bold plan? To dominate welterweight without surrendering his lightweight crown. Cormier, referencing Amanda Nunes’ reign as a two-division champ, warned it’s a tall order. Nunes managed it with only a 10-pound gap and a thin featherweight division, but Makhachev faces a grueling challenge toggling between lightweight and welterweight. “It’s brutal,” Cormier admitted. “Once you’re champ in a higher weight class, why keep cutting? It’s a tough road.”
As the UFC world braces for Makhachev’s next move, the question looms: can he defy the odds and rule two divisions, or will the welterweight gamble reshape his legacy?
