Islam Makhachev to Challenge for Welterweight Title at UFC 322

Former lightweight champ sets sights on welterweight crown and possible White House showdown

Islam Makhachev is ready to shake things up—again. This time, he’s packing his bags for the welterweight division, where he’ll square off against Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight championship at UFC 322. Mark your calendars for November 14, because Madison Square Garden is about to become the center of the MMA universe.

Back in May, Makhachev made the bold move to vacate his lightweight title, opening the door for Ilia Topuria. Topuria wasted no time, snatching the crown after defeating Charles Oliveira in June. With a new king reigning over the lightweight division, Makhachev has his eyes fixed firmly on the next mountain to climb.

But wait, there’s more to this story. Makhachev hasn’t ruled out a future dance with Topuria—maybe even on the grandest stage of all: the White House lawn. President Donald Trump stirred the pot on June 14 by announcing plans for a UFC event at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. No bouts are set in stone yet, and a rematch with Topuria is still up in the air, but you can almost hear the fight fans buzzing with anticipation.

During his reign as lightweight champion, Makhachev defended his belt four times—a feat that would make even the most seasoned fighters break a sweat. He’s been candid about the toll of making the 155-pound weight limit, admitting it put a dent in his performance. Now, with a move to welterweight, Makhachev believes he’ll be able to unleash his full potential—no more squeezing into a weight class like a genie into a bottle.

The million-dollar question: Can Makhachev conquer a second division and add another jewel to his crown? All eyes are on UFC 322 this November, where we’ll find out if he can turn this dream into reality.