Oct 6, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Khabib Nurmagomedov (red gloves) reacts after his fight against Conor McGregor (blue gloves) during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Spills The Beans On Islam Makhachev’s Next UFC Title Fight At Historic Location!

Khabib Nurmagomedov hints at a blockbuster return for Islam Makhachev, revealing early details about a historic title bout!

Khabib Nurmagomedov has a habit of dropping major news bombs during casual conversations with fans. Whether he’s announcing fights at press conferences or revealing training camp details on social media, Khabib speaks his mind without much filter. This tendency has gotten him in trouble with management before, but fans absolutely love getting inside information straight from the source.

The relationship between Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev goes far deeper than just being training partners at the famous AKA. He has served as Makhachev’s mentor, cornerman, and biggest supporter throughout his rise to the lightweight championship. When Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 after his mother asked him to stop fighting, he immediately began focusing on Islam’s career development. ‘The Eagle’ has been instrumental in Islam Makhachev’s strategic planning, from choosing opponents to negotiating contract terms with the UFC.

Islam’s Madison Square Garden Dreams Become Reality

During a fan Q&A session, Khabib Nurmagomedov couldn’t help himself when discussing Makhachev’s future. He confirmed that Islam Makhachve will headline UFC 322 against Jack Della Maddalena at the iconic Madison Square Garden. When one of his team member tried to stop him from revealing too much information, Khabib brushed them off. He explained that this was Islam’s deal with the UFC, not his, so he felt free to share the details.

BREAKING NEWS: Khabib Nurmagomedov confirms Islam Makhachev will MAIN EVENT against Jack Della Maddalena at #ufc322 #Khabib #IslamMakhachev pic.twitter.com/3oJ23a5BVE
— The Cornell Combat Sports Show (@theMMMApodcast) August 3, 2025

The timing makes perfect sense for both fighters and the promotion. UFC 322 is scheduled for November 15, 2025, at Madison Square Garden. This lines up with the UFC’s traditional New York City card timing. Madison Square Garden has become synonymous with the biggest fights in combat sports history. From Muhammad Ali’s legendary boxing matches to some of the UFC’s most memorable moments, the venue carries serious weight in fight fans’ minds.

Dana White previously confirmed that the Della Maddalena vs Makhachev fight was big enough to headline Madison Square Garden. So Khabib Nurmagomedov’s announcement doesn’t come as a complete shock to industry insiders. The UFC president has been building toward this matchup for months, knowing it would generate massive interest from fight fans worldwide. Having it take place at MSG elevates the significance even further!

What Is At Stake?

Jack Della Maddalena presents a fascinating stylistic matchup for Islam Makhachev’s welterweight debut. The newly crowned UFC welterweight champion brings excellent boxing skills and knockout power that could pose problems for Islam’s typically wrestling heavy approach. Della Maddalena’s path to the championship included a stunning victory over Belal Muhammad, who many considered one of the division’s most complete fighters.

The size difference between the two fighters adds another intriguing element to this championship bout. Islam has spent his entire UFC career as a lightweight, where his grappling advantages were most pronounced. Moving up 15 pounds to face a welterweight who cuts weight to make 170 pounds could neutralize some of Islam’s physical advantages. Della Maddalena’s reach and frame might allow him to keep Islam at distance during striking exchanges.

The November timing gives both fighters approximately three months to prepare, although they would have known before this. Islam Makhachev hasn’t competed since his lightweight title defense earlier this year at UFC 311, while Della Maddalena will be looking to make his first title defense after capturing the belt from Muhammad at UFC 315. The stakes couldn’t be higher for both men’s legacies and future in the sport!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

Khabib Nurmagomedov

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!