Overview

• Islam Makhachev has entered camp for a move to welterweight to challenge champion Jack Della Maddalena, with Khabib indicating a likely November date in New York that the UFC has not confirmed.
• Fresh training footage shows Makhachev dropping a sparring partner with a body shot after an earlier viral clip where he choked a PFL fighter unconscious, underscoring his active preparation.
• Analyst reactions diverge, with former AKA fighter Andrew Sanchez doubting Della Maddalena can stop Makhachev’s offensive wrestling and Kenny Florian warning about the power gap at 170 pounds.
• Ex-champion Tyron Woodley said Della Maddalena wouldn’t have cracked the top 10 in his era and picked Makhachev to win, while noting heavy-handed wrestlers from his time could trouble the Dagestani.
• Context around the matchup highlights Makhachev’s 27–1 record and elite takedown metrics against Della Maddalena’s high knockout rate, with betting lines cited listing Makhachev near a 2-to-1 favorite and a potential path to two-division champion status.