The UFC welterweight division crowned a new champion at UFC 322 last November. Former lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev relinquished his 155-pound championship and moved up to the 170-pound weight class and became a two-division champion by defeating Jack Della Maddalena in a dominating win.
Who’d face Makhachev in his first title defense was debated but the variables changed. Top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Ian Machado Garry in a title eliminator match at UFC 310. Injuries kept Rakhmonov sidelined. After suffering another injury, “Nomad” was removed from the rankings.
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Former champion Della Maddalena assumed the top spot but lost to Makhachev in a one-sided decision in his last outing. Second-ranked Machado Garry claims he’s next in line and listed the matchups he’d like to see between the other contenders.
“Everybody has an opinion on who should fight who in the welterweight division. Here’s mine,” Machado Garry said in an Instagram post.
“(No. 3 ranked) Carlos Prates versus (No. 5 ranked) Michael Morales because it is two power-heavy hitters and I want to see who comes out on top,” Machado Garry said. “I doubt Morales will take it because the truth is Carlos Prates hits harder.”
“I’m going to match Jack Della Maddalena versus (No. 7 ranked) Kamaru Usman. I want to see if Jack can stop the takedown. Has he learned? Can he get better? Can he evolve, and has Kamaru still got the gears to beat a young prospect,” he continued.
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“‘And finally, the world title fight at welterweight. I want to see the champion Islam Makhachev defend his belt against the number one contender in the world, Ian Machado Garry. I’m next.”
