Islam Makhachev, the former 155-pound champion, is now chasing history at welterweight. He will challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the title at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden on November 15. Della Maddalena shocked the world by upsetting Belal Muhammad back in May to claim the belt. Now Makhachev wants to become a two-division champion and cement his legacy even further. <\/p>
But there’s one problem that keeps following him around. Ilia Topuria won’t shut up about fighting him. The new lightweight champion has been calling out Makhachev relentlessly, accusing him of running away by moving up in weight. Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to win the lightweight title at UFC<\/a> 317, succeeding Makhachev as champion. <\/p> Before and after that victory, ‘El Matador’ has taken shots at the Dagestani fighter. He claims Makhachev moved to welterweight specifically to avoid him. Topuria even suggested he might move up to welterweight himself to chase a third championship across three divisions. The feud has become one of the most talked-about storylines in the UFC right now. Fans desperately want to see these two settle things in the octagon. But Islam Makhachev made his priorities clear.<\/p> Speaking with Match TV<\/strong> recently, Makhachev addressed the constant talk about fighting Topuria. He didn’t hold back either, making his position crystal clear. He pointed out that he already won the lightweight belt and has nothing left to prove at that weight class. Going back down would just mean torture from the weight cut without any real reward.<\/p> “This fight is the main thing people are talking about. How could it be interesting to me? What will I gain by going down to 155 pounds and beating Topuria? The fans are mostly interested in it. I’m not interested in cutting weight to 155 pounds and torturing myself again. I’m interested in fighting at 170.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>Islam Makhachev Explains Why The Topuria Fight Doesn’t Interest Him<\/h2>