Oct 22, 2022; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) celebrates with the title belt after defeating Charles Oliveira (red gloves) during UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports

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Ali Abdelaziz Explains The Reason Behind Islam Makhachev Vacating The Lightweight Title

Ali Abdelaziz Reveals Backstory Behind Islam Makhachev Decision Vacating His Lightweight Crown!

Friendship in the fight game is a rare and beautiful thing. Most fighters claim they would fight their own mother for the right price. Not Islam Makhachev. The Dagestan native has always valued loyalty above gold. His brotherhood with Khabib Nurmagomedov and team, including Belal Muhammad is legendary among MMA fans. This mindset extends to their entire team.

The UFC landscape shifted dramatically after UFC 315 in Montreal last weekend. Jack Della Maddalena shocked the world by dethroning Belal Muhammad for the welterweight crown. Nobody saw that coming. The Australian striker was a sizeable underdog going into the fight. But his lightning-fast hands proved too much for the grinding style of Muhammad. This upset victory created a domino effect that would change multiple weight divisions. Dana White’s Tuesday announcement parade revealed just how much one fight can change the entire UFC calendar.

Also Read: Welterweight Contender Believes That Islam Makhachev Can Beat Jack Della Maddalena but Not Without Taking a Few Bruises First

Ali Abdelaziz Reveals Why Islam Makhachev Vacated The Belt

Islam Makhachev has officially vacated his UFC lightweight championship. His manager Ali Abdelaziz explained the reasoning in an interview with MMA Junkie. Had Belal Muhammad defended his welterweight title successfully, Makhachev would have stayed at 155 pounds. The two fighters share not just a manager but also a deep bond as training partners.

“If Belal were to win, Islam was never going to fight Belal, and he’s going to stay in the (lightweight) division. But now Jack wins. Islam has beaten everyone in this division, literally… No one deserves to go fight for a second title than Islam, and the reason he wasn’t going to do it because Belal was the champion... Regardless if Maddalena is injured, not injured, hurt, this is the word that was given to me by Hunter [Campvbell], by Dana [White], by everybody. If Jack is not ready, Islam will fight for the belt. Not the interim belt. For a real UFC belt.”

Islam Makhachev's manager Ali Abdelaziz explains vacating the title before facing Ilia Topuria and a promised title fight at 170.

"If Jack is not ready, Islam will fight for the belt. Not the interim belt. For a real UFC belt."

(via @MikeBohn) pic.twitter.com/N6kV4pyMZA
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) May 14, 2025

This loyalty speaks volumes in a sport where money typically trumps friendship. With Muhammad losing his belt to Della Maddalena, the path cleared for Makhachev to chase his two-division dream. Abdelaziz believes his fighter has cleaned out the lightweight division already. A fifteen-fight win streak backs up this bold claim. Makhachev finished nine of his last ten opponents, dominating everyone from Dan Hooker to Charles Oliveira. What more could he prove at 155?

Furthermore, Abdelaziz revealed that fighting and winning against another featherweight (Ilia Topuria) does nothing for Makhachev’s legacy. People were still going to cry that he beat a 145 pound fighter.

Makhachev now sets his sights on becoming the next two-division champion in UFC history. His potential clash with Australia’s new champion Jack Della Maddalena looms large on the horizon. Will Makhachev’s dominance translate to a higher weight class? Or will the extra pounds prove too much? These remains to be seen.

(Image Credit: Craig Kidwell – Imagn Images)

Belal Muhammad

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

Zaid Quraishi

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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!