Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) walks out for a ightweight title fight against Renato Moicano (not pictured) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

mma

Islam Makhachev’s Coach Points To A Greater Challenge Than Ilia Topuria Following UFC 317 Win

Islam Makhachev's coach Javier Mendez gives his take on a tougher challenge than Ilia Topuria after UFc 317!

The UFC lightweight division just got a new ruler, but Islam Makhachev and his team are already looking elsewhere for their next big challenge. Ilia Topuria’s devastating first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 sent shockwaves through the MMA world and officially crowned a new champion at 155 pounds! And in the midst of it, Makhachev’s camp seems more interested in bigger fish swimming in deeper waters.

The former lightweight champion has been busy making his own moves lately. He vacated his title to chase gold in the welterweight division. Makhachev has been eyeing a move up for months, and the timing worked out perfectly when Jack Della Maddalena shocked the world by defeating Belal Muhammad for the 170-pound belt at UFC 315. Now both fighters are positioned for what could be one of the biggest title fights of the year, with legacy implications that go far beyond just adding another belt to the collection.

Javier Mendez Gives His Take On Islam Makhachev’s Toughest Test

Javier Mendez, the legendary coach who has guided Makhachev’s career, recently dropped some interesting thoughts about potential matchups for his star pupil. When asked about a possible fight with Topuria, Mendez acknowledged the Georgian’s incredible boxing skills but pointed to Jack Della Maddalena as a much tougher puzzle to solve.

“Maddalena is the tougher one because of number one, the size. Number two, he’s good everywhere. If it was just boxing, then we don’t have to worry as much because Maddalena’s boxing is not as good as Topuria’s but overall, his kicking, his knees, his overall game is very good.”

His reasoning makes perfect sense when fans break it down. While Topuria might have the best hands in the business, Della Maddalena brings a complete package that includes size, reach, and dangerous weapons throughout his arsenal.This isn’t just about one guy being better than another, it’s about different types of challenges that require different game plans. Topuria might try to knock his head off with his boxing, but Della Maddalena can try to hurt him from every angle and position, making him a nightmare to prepare for.

The location for this potential superfight has Mendez and Makhachev’s team particularly excited about one possibility. Madison Square Garden in November could provide the perfect stage. Mendez talked about how much his fighter would love to capture another title at the world’s most famous arena!

While other locations like Abu Dhabi remain possibilities, the idea of Makhachev headlining MSG for the first time adds extra juice to an already compelling matchup. Della Maddalena would get his first major title defense, while Makhachev could become a two-division champion in one of the sport’s most iconic venues!

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

Javier Mendez

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!