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

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Names The Welterweight Fighters That Could Give Islam Makhachev Big Trouble!

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

Moving up weight classes in MMA is like walking into a completely different world. Fighters often discover that those extra pounds make a massive difference in power, speed, and overall physicality. The lightweight division has long been considered one of the deepest and most competitive in the UFC, but welterweight brings its own unique set of challenges. When a dominant champion decides to chase new gold in a heavier division, everyone starts wondering if their skills will translate against bigger, stronger opponents.

Islam Makhachev has already conquered the lightweight division with the same methodical approach that made his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov so successful. The Dagestani fighter has run through practically every top contender at 155 pounds. He has showcased a complete skill set that blends elite wrestling with increasingly dangerous striking. His reign has been so dominant that fans and fighters alike started calling for him to test himself against welterweight competition. Now it looks like that move is becoming reality, with UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden reportedly being the target date for his welterweight debut.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Breaks Down The Biggest Threats For Islam Makhachev

The undefeated legend recently shared his thoughts on which welterweight fighters could pose the biggest problems for his longtime training partner. According to Nurmagomedov, three names stand out above the rest in terms of legitimate threats to Makhachev’s potential welterweight dominance.

“In the welterweight division, I see Shavkat as someone who commands respect and brings real risk. Shavkat, Belal. Ian Garry, I wouldn’t consider him such a serious threat… I don’t see Sean Brady as a big threat. Stylistically, he’s too convenient for Islam. Islam would outstrike him, and if they grappled, Islam would control him…Shavkat, Belal and Maddalena.”

Khabib breaks down the welterweight division ahead of Islam's 170 debut:

"In the welterweight division, I see Shavkat as someone who commands respect and brings real risk. Shavkat, Belal.

Ian Garry, I wouldn't consider him such a serious threat… I don't see Sean Brady as a… pic.twitter.com/uwGYRzBjYr
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 26, 2025

Shavkat Rakhmonov leads that list as someone who “commands respect” to any potential matchup. The former champion also highlighted current welterweight king Jack Della Maddalena and his training partner Belal Muhammad as serious dangers for Makhachev. Interestingly, Nurmagomedov seemed less concerned about other highly ranked welterweights like Ian Garry and Sean Brady.

Islam Makhachev’s next challenge is Della Maddalena. The Australian has already proven himself against elite competition by out-grappling respected wrestlers like Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns. That’s no small feat considering both of those fighters are known for their strong ground games. Della Maddalena has also shown impressive striking skills by handling rangy opponents like Kevin Holland without much trouble.

Perhaps most importantly, Della Maddalena trains at the same camp as former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Having that inside knowledge and preparation time could make Della Maddalena an even trickier opponent. The welterweight division is loaded with talent, but these three fighters represent the biggest question marks for Makhachev’s potential success at 170 pounds.

(Image Credit: Craig Kidwell – Imagn Images)

Belal Muhammad

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

Khabib Nurmagomedov

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!