Islam Makhachev (27-1) will have the chance to become a UFC double champion at UFC 322, which will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 15. After winning the lightweight belt and defending it three times, the Dagestani fighter vacated it and will face Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) for the welterweight title. Khabib Nurmagomedov, a legend of the company, has analyzed the biggest dangers that his best friend will have in this new adventure.
After the death of his father Abdulmanap, the former UFC lightweight champion retired and took on the role of mentor to most of the fighters in the Dagestan region. In an interview with Kamil Gadzhiyev, ‘The Eagle’ confessed who he considers to be the most dangerous fighters at 170 pounds, as well as those who have a big name but would not be so dangerous for Makhachev because of their style
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“In the welterweight division, I see Shavkat Rakhmonov as someone who inspires respect and is a real threat. Shavkat, Belal… I wouldn’t consider Ian Garry as such a serious threat, and I don’t see Sean Brady as a big threat either. Stylistically, it suits him too much. Islam would outstrike him, and if they go to the ground he would control him,” he said.
These words should be taken with a pinch of salt, as there is a possibility that Makhachev could lose to Jack Della Maddalena, which would leave him in a difficult position. Welterweight is a division full of talent on the verge of a title shot, so if he fails to beat the Australian it would make sense to drop back down to lightweight if he wants to continue to participate in title fights.
Rakhmonov, the uncrowned king
Khabib’s statements about the greatest threats Makhachev will face have two sides. On the one hand, he talks about Belal Muhammad as a great threat, but the reality is that the whole ‘The Eagle’ team maintains a great relationship with the former welterweight champion. In fact, Makhachev even considered not moving up in weight class if the Palestinian remained the monarch, but he lost the belt to Della Maddalena at UFC 315. A few minutes later, Islam announced his decision
On the other side is Shavkat Rakhmonov, the man considered the uncrowned king of this division. The Kazakh fighter is, for many, the most talented fighter in the division, but injuries have played a key role in his career recently. Last December, ‘The Nomad’ was going to face Belal for the belt, but the Palestinian had a setback and Rakhmonov ended up defeating Ian Garry. For last UFC 315, the opposite situation occurred, and it was Shavkat who could not face the Palestinian due to injury
In the end, it was Della Maddalena who replaced Rakhmonov, and the new welterweight champion. While Rakhmonov recovers and the rest of the contenders wait their turn, it will be Makhachev who will move up in weight to face the Australian. It is uncertain how the Dagestani will perform in a division where there are very big and complete fighters, who could nullify his skills in striking, and especially in grappling.
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