Nov 15, 2025; New York, NY, UNITED STATES; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) celebrates after defeating Jack Della Maddalena (not pictured) by unanimous decision in the welterweight championship bout during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

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“At Least 3 Or 4 Contenders” – Islam Makhachev Gives His Take On Who Can Be Next For The Welterweight Title!

New champions rarely get much time to celebrate their victories anymore. Contenders start calling for title shots before the belt ceremony finishes. Social media explodes with fighters demanding their opportunity immediately after fights end. The UFC matchmaking machine works quickly to book the next defense. Islam Makhachev experienced exactly this phenomenon after winning the welterweight title.

He dominated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to become a two-division champion. But before he could even leave Madison Square Garden, callouts started flying. Ian Garry demanded his shot after beating Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar. Shavkat Rakhmonov staked his claim despite being injured for months. Now Makhachev gave his take on who can be next for the title during recent Russian media appearances.

Islam Makhachev Gives His Take On His Next Contender

Makhachev addressed his future plans while speaking to Russian media outlet Ushatayka recently. The Dagestani champion hasn’t made a final decision about his next opponent. But he’s clearly been evaluating the contenders carefully and weighing all options.

“I think the UFC will decide soon. We have at least three or four contenders now. Soon, probably in about two weeks, it will be clear who the next challenger will be.”

Islam Makhachev talks about who his next opponent could be at 170:

"I think the UFC will decide soon. We have at least 3 or 4 contenders now. Soon, probably in about 2 weeks, it will be clear who the next challenger will be.

[Ian Garry] didn't surprise me yesterday. If he… pic.twitter.com/T5XTNk0Rlz
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 23, 2025

That timeline suggests UFC matchmakers are actively negotiating behind the scenes currently. Fans will probably see him action after Ramadan (Feb-March). This will give UFC enough time to lay out a plan for his next title defense.

Ian Garry And Shavkat Rakhmonov Question

Ian Garry earned arguably the biggest victory of his career at UFC Qatar. The Irish prospect defeated former champion Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision impressively. He stuffed every takedown attempt and controlled the striking exchanges beautifully. Garry immediately called out Makhachev during his post-fight interview boldly. But Makhachev wasn’t particularly impressed by what he witnessed apparently.

“He’s a good fighter, but he didn’t surprise me yesterday. If he surprised the UFC, then maybe he will be next.”

That comment suggests Makhachev doesn’t view Garry as his most dangerous challenger. The champion seemed underwhelmed by the overall performance despite the victory. Shavkat Rakhmonov represents the other major contender in this discussion currently. The undefeated Kazakh fighter has been out with injuries for over a year. He’s targeting an early 2026 return after recovering from his health issues. Rakhmonov called out Makhachev after UFC 322 on social media immediately. But the champion has reservations about giving him the immediate shot.

“He hasn’t fought for over a year. A contender can’t sit out for a year with injuries and then come fight for the belt.”

That’s a fair point about activity requirements for title challengers honestly. However, Makhachev left the door open if circumstances change favorably. The champion trusts UFC matchmaking to make the final call ultimately.

(Image Credit: Ed Mulholland – Imagn Images)

Ian Garry

Islam Makhachev

Shavkat Rakhmonov

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!