After dominating the UFC lightweight division for over 900 days, Dagestani phenom Islam Makhachev finally confirmed last week that he’s saying goodbye to 155 lbs. Now, he’s setting his sights on becoming a two-division champion. People expect the reigning lightweight king to move up and face Australian sensation Jack Della Maddalena. The Aussie captured the welterweight title at UFC 315 by outclassing Belal Muhammad—a close friend and longtime training partner of Khamzat Chimaev.

With Belal dethroned, Makhachev’s path to the 170 lbs belt looks clearer than ever. But not everyone is on board with the move. Former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, who had been eyeing his own shot at double-champ status, was hoping to earn it by defeating Makhachev. Now that opportunity has slipped away. Islam Makhachev’s exit has left the lightweight strap vacant, and the UFC has already scheduled a title fight at UFC 317 on June 29, featuring ‘El Matador and former champion Charles Oliveira.

Still, Ilia Topuria hasn’t held back in criticizing Islam Makhachev’s decision. He recently labeled Makhachev the “biggest hypocrite” for allegedly ducking him due to his smaller size. Makhachev didn’t stay silent, firing back by calling Topuria a “nobody” as their war of words continues across social media. Amid this heated rivalry, Paddy Pimblett weighed in during a recent interview with TNT Sports’ Adam Catterall. When asked what he would have done in current ightweight champ’s shoes, Pimblett responded:

“If I was Islam, I would have done that. I would’ve beaten Topuria and then fought Jack Della Maddalena like four months later. Because Islam will probably want to headline the Abu Dhabi card (in October).”

Pimblett also defended Islam Makhachev’s choice to move up in weight, pointing to the champion’s previous accomplishments—specifically his back-to-back title fights against former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski. He added:

“But I can see where he’s coming from. He’s already beaten two featherweights—he beat a featherweight twice—saying he doesn’t want to beat another featherweight. But, you know, loads of people think I beats Islam, which I don’t. So, it would have been nice to see Islam schooling him.”

The Dagestani native is now officially stepping away from the lightweight division after ruling it with four dominant title defenses. He’s already taken out the featherweight GOAT, Alexander Volkanovski—twice—at UFC 284 and UFC 294, proving his dominance on both occasions.

Now, with Volkanovski in the rearview mirror, another Australian stands in his path—Jack Della Maddalena.So, what’s the plan for  Makhachev as he eyes the 170 lbs division? Let’s break it down.

Team Khabib coach warns Jack Della Maddalena over Islam Makhachev clash

The moment the referee raised Jack Della Maddalena’s hand, officially crowning him the new welterweight champion, the Australian star didn’t waste a second. From inside the Octagon in Montreal, he issued a bold callout to Islam Makhachev. “It’s a beautiful challenge. Islam is pound-for-pound number one. I want to get it back for Volk,” said JDM, making his intentions crystal clear as he turned to Dana White & Co. to make the fight happen. The UFC brass responded with confidence, assuring Della Maddalena they would work on making it a reality.

But the message didn’t go unnoticed—Islam Makhachev’s longtime coach, Javier Mendez, addressed the challenge with a pointed response, using Belal Muhammad’s recent defeat as a cautionary tale. While Mendez acknowledged that JDM may have the tools to outstrike Makhachev, he stressed that the Dagestani champion isn’t walking into this unprepared. During his appearance on Submission Radio, the Team Khabib head coach laid out a thoughtful game plan to counter the Aussie’s threat.

“We would dictate the fight based on how well he’s doing or not doing, and he can do it all,” Mendez said of Makhachev. “Can he take Jack down? Absolutely, he can take him down. Can he outstrike Jack? Absolutely, he could outstrike him. But is it wise to try to outstrike him like I feel we can? I don’t know – it may not be. It may be a better deal to do what Belal should have done and what he didn’t do.”

Now, the decision is up to Dana White & Co. Do you think Islam Makhachev will face Jack Della Maddalena in JDM’s first title defense—and in Makhachev’s welterweight debut? Share your thoughts below.