With UFC 315 officially wrapped and the promotion’s triumphant return to Montreal declared a resounding success, the picture is finally starting to clear at both welterweight and lightweight. Belal Muhammad’s short-lived reign as champion came to a dramatic end in his first title defense, as Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena snapped his 10-fight win streak in a five-round striking clinic at the Bell Centre. Under the spotlight, the Aussie proved he was on another level, toppling Muhammad and reshuffling the 170-pound hierarchy in the process.

With Belal Muhammad no longer holding the belt, the door has swung open for lightweight champion Islam Makhachev to pursue his long-standing goal of becoming a two-division king. Wasting no time, Makhachev took to X shortly after the event, declaring, “Time to become double champion.” Jack Della Maddalena didn’t shy away from the challenge. Calling the Russian phenom a “beautiful challenge,” the newly crowned welterweight champ even added a personal edge to the potential showdown: “I’m gonna get him back for Volk,” referencing his teammate Alexander Volkanovski’s battles with the lightweight champ.

While Dana White & Co. brass have yet to make the fight official, early signs suggest Australia could host this blockbuster clash. Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, sees that as a strategic win. Speaking with Submission Radio, Javier Mendez shed light on a key factor that could work in Islam Makhachev’s favor if the fight takes place in Australia. “I’m thinking, logically speaking, he has to cut less weight, and the recovery time is a lot less too. But if it is in Australia, we’ll need it, because in Australia, they only give you 24 hours to recover—it’s not 36 hours like everywhere else. So we’ll only have a 24-hour recovery,” Mendez explained.

The American Kickboxing Academy coach went on to say, “If that’s the case, it’s fantastic. I don’t know if that’s going to be an advantage because of that reason, but if it’s anywhere else where it’s the 36-hour plus, then it’s a nice advantage for Islam to recover quicker.”

While Mendez acknowledged that the same 24-hour rule would apply to Jack Della Maddalena, he ultimately believes the circumstances favor Makhachev more. Since Islam Makhachev would be moving up from 155 pounds, his weight cut would be less taxing—potentially giving him a fresher edge on fight night.

With the Dagestani native now setting his sights on the welterweight crown, the 170-pound division is more electrified than ever. Contenders like Ian Garry, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Sean Brady are already circling the title picture, and the Dagestani native’s looming presence only raises the stakes.

Is Islam Makhachev next for newly crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena?

Jack Della Maddalena’s explosive performance tonight didn’t just earn him a dominant win—it crushed the MMA community’s hopes of a potential Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria lightweight super-fight. Despite being one of the more polarizing figures in the sport, Belal Muhammad had fans rooting for him—not out of love, but in hopes of keeping the 155lbs champ anchored in the lightweight division and clearing a path for Topuria. But the newly minted welterweight champ had other ideas.

For five relentless rounds, the Aussie dismantled the American-Palestinian fighter inside the Octagon, decisively ending Muhammad’s brief title run. With Belal Muhammad dethroned, the road is now wide open for Islam Makhachev to move up to 170 lbs—and Jack Della Maddalena is already waiting. Fueling his fire even more is a desire for payback. The Perth native hasn’t forgotten how his teammate, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, suffered two losses—one, a brutal KO— at the hands of Makhachev.

Now, Jack Della Maddalena sees his shot at redemption—for both himself and Volk. If he beats Islam, he sends him right back down to face Volkanovski, who’s back in form and hunting a third crack at the lightweight belt. Wasting no time, the Australian went straight to the top after his win, calling UFC CEO Dana White and matchmaker Hunter Campbell. His question was direct: “Islam Makhachev next, right? In Perth?” White responded, “We’ll get this figured out.”

Campbell, in turn, thanked Jack Della Maddalena for stepping up on short notice after his scheduled bout with Leon Edwards fell apart. And with a grin that said it all, the Aussie closed the night with a cheeky line: “Saved (the welterweight division), aye!”

As Dana White & Co. continues to figure out what’s next for Jack Della Maddalena, what’s your take on Javier Mendez’s recent comments? Do you think Australia’s 24-hour recovery window will give Islam Makhachev an edge compared to the 36-hour window in other countries? Share your thoughts below.