Manager: Islam Makhachev Will Fight for Welterweight Title This Year, Regardless of Foe

Ali Abdelaziz confirms that Islam Makhachev will compete for the welterweight title this year, whether Jack Maddalena is ready to fight or sidelined due to injury.

"Islam will fight for the title this year regardless of whether Maddalena is injured or ready to fight. This is the… pic.twitter.com/95tPUc73ID

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 14, 2025

Islam Makhachev manager Ali Abdelaziz is sure that Dagestani will fight for the welterweight title this year, regardless of the opponent. 

The entire landscape of the lightweight and welterweight divisions have changed in the past few weeks. Makhachev has long been planning a move to 170 pounds, but friend Belal Muhammad being the champ stood as a hurdle. However, Muhammad was dethroned by Jack Della Maddalena in an upset at UFC 315 last weekend. Makhachev officially vacated his lightweight title on Tuesday, and Dana White confirmed that he will fight Maddalena for the belt eventually. 

Had Muhammad won, Makhachev would have defended his lightweight strap against Ilia Topuria, who will now face former champ Charles Oliveira for the vacant strap at UFC 317 on June 28.  Meanwhile, Abdelaziz claims to have been promised that Makhachev will fight for the welterweight title this year. According to Abdelaziz, the UFC bosses promised to make Maddalena vacate the title if he is not ready to fight due to an injury or other reasons. They even allegedly cited the example of Jamahal Hill, who had to vacate his light heavyweight title months after winning it against Glover Teixeira in 2023. And Abdelaziz trusts the UFC brass who have seemingly always kept their word with him.

  “Islam will fight this year,” Abdelaziz told MMAjunkie.com. ”Regardless [of] Maddalena injured, not injured, hurt. This was the word given to me by Hunter, by Dana, by everybody. He said, ‘Jamahal Hill got injured, we vacated him.’ Islam will fight for the title. And these guys, their word is gold to me. They always, whatever they say, they do. And he’ll fight someone, it can be anybody… If Jack is not ready, Islam will fight for the belt, not an interim belt, for a real UFC belt.”

Top UFC exec Hunter Campbell was in Dagestan for negotiations weeks before UFC 315, which would decide the fate of two divisions. Abdelaziz praised Campbell for the visit and believes things wouldn’t have been as smooth without it.