UFC 315 brought great joy to Islam Makhachev as it finally opened the door to his long-standing dream of becoming a two-division champion. With Belal Muhammad no longer holding the welterweight title, the path is now clear. Jack Della Maddalena’s victory and new reign as champion ignited Makhachev’s ambition again. With the division reshaped, Makhachev is ready to move up in weight and chase history by claiming his second UFC belt.
Shortly after Belal Muhammad’s loss at UFC 315, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev took to X, declaring it’s time to become a two-division champion. He expressed excitement for the opportunity, as his path was previously blocked by his close relationship with Muhammad, who often trains with Team Khabib.
With Belal no longer holding the welterweight title, Makhachev has made it clear now that the gate is open, and he’s ready to chase his second UFC belt.
Time to become a double champion #inshaAllah
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) May 11, 2025
Let’s go
However, fans hoping to see Ilia Topuria fight for the lightweight belt might be disappointed, as the UFC has seemingly put that matchup on hold. The Spaniard moved up in weight, aiming to face Makhachev, but the lightweight champ has now made it clear he’s focusing on moving up to challenge for the welterweight title. Still, since Makhachev has no plans to vacate his belt, the Topuria fight remains a possibility, just not for now. It may happen in the future.
Islam Makhachev Trashed Jack Della Madellana After UFC 315 Win
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Following JDM’s welterweight title win, the LW champ was quick to respond online. Though not training partners, Della Maddalena and Alexander Volkanovski share a strong bond thanks to their Australian connection, and the new champ made it known he wanted to get payback for Volkanovski’s defeats against Makhachev. The lightweight king didn’t hold back, taking aim at Della Maddalena with a sharp message that signaled his intent to challenge for the title and prove his dominance across divisions.
Indeed, all eyes are now on whether Islam Makhachev can secure his second belt or if Jack Della Maddalena will spoil the party. With Makhachev aiming to make history as a two-division champion, the pressure is high, but JDM has the chance to pull off a major upset and derail those plans, adding another big name to his resume in the process.
Also Read: UFC Legend Believes No One Will Strip Islam Makhachev’s Title Thanks To Khabib Nurmagomedov
