Overview
- Islam Makhachev's next fight hinges on the result of UFC 315's welterweight title bout between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena.
- If Muhammad retains his title, Makhachev is expected to defend his lightweight belt against Ilia Topuria at UFC 317.
- A victory by Della Maddalena could see Makhachev vacate the lightweight title to challenge for the welterweight crown, potentially setting up Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira at 155 lbs.
- Makhachev has reportedly started training camp, fueling speculation of a lightweight title defense despite his expressed ambition to move to welterweight.
- Experts, including Gilbert Burns and Javier Mendez, highlight Makhachev's weight-cut struggles and suggest he is better suited for the 170-pound division.