Overview
- After a record four defenses at lightweight, Islam Makhachev vacated 155 pounds and captured the 170-pound title with a lopsided decision over Jack Della Maddalena.
- Both Makhachev and former champion Kamaru Usman have expressed interest in meeting next, with Usman Nurmagomedov backing the matchup as a legacy fight.
- Jorge Masvidal calls Usman Makhachev’s most dangerous option at welterweight and a clear step up from Della Maddalena due to Usman’s size, experience, and defensive wrestling.
- Georges St‑Pierre outlines a blueprint to beat Makhachev by matching his wrestling, creating scrambles, regaining striking range, and constant pressure, citing Mansour Barnaoui as an example.
- Pushback persists from contenders such as Belal Muhammad over Usman’s immediate candidacy, while Joaquin Buckley suggests the winner of a Makhachev–Usman bout could consider retiring given the legacy stakes.