Islam Makhachev has a fresh target on his back after winning the welterweight title at UFC 322.
And he plans to be just as dominant as he was when he held the lightweight belt.
Saturday’s Madison Square Garden show was a showcase of sorts for the 170-pound division, with Makhachev completing a successful move up from 155 pounds by defeating champion Jack Della Maddalena in the main event, and Michael Morales and Carlos Prates delivering explosive knockouts over top contenders on the undercard.
Having
vacated the lightweight title earlier this year, Makhachev is once again a champion, and he’s eager to test himself against the current crop of welterweight challengers.
“Everybody,” Makhachev said at the evening’s post-fight press conference when asked who he’d like to defend against first. “This is the most competitive division right now, welterweight. Sure, 100 percent, a lot of young guys who fought today. Next week, a couple of guys [Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry] are going to fight. Also Kamaru [Usman], [Ilia] Topuria, all killers want to take my belt. I don’t give it up. I’m working so hard to be double champion and I feel today I don’t have to cut much weight and I’m going to defend my belt many, many times more.”
Current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria was vocal in his criticism of Saturday’s main event, which saw Makhachev dominate with his wrestling and completely neutralize Della Maddalena’s offense. It wasn’t a Fight of the Year candidate by any stretch, and Topuria didn’t hold back, calling Della Maddalena “a disappointment of a champion” and telling Makhachev, “You’re the most boring thing in this game.”
Asked about Topuria’s comments, Makhachev didn’t respond directly, but did defend his title-winning performance.
“No injury, nothing, I don’t feel any pains,” Makhachev said. “I am ready. Who’s going to be next? Let’s do this and I will make it easy. Today, I showed, Jack’s one of the best in this game, one of the hardest opponents, that’s why I prepared so hard, to make this easy. This is our plan and I did exactly–I tried to do some chokes, tried to make kimura, but he defends very well. I make this easy because I was training so hard.”
Aside from Topuria, two welterweight contenders made strong cases to be considered for a title shot in the near future. Carlos Prates scored a one-punch knockout of former champion Leon Edwards, and the undefeated Michael Morales arguably did him one better by taking out Sean Brady inside of the first round.
Makhachev was watching and he praised his potential opponents.
“I saw both fights,” Makhachev said. “Prates, he beat a former champion. Clear knockout. They’re both very good, very tough, young, and I’m surprised how this guy [Prates] who smokes all day, he beat the former champion.”
Morales also had a chance to speak to the media following the conclusion of UFC 322 and he questioned why Makhachev is so confident he can take him down.
Islam smiled when told of Morales’ comments, but it doesn’t sound like he’s taking them all that seriously.
“Same thing everybody says: I’m going to knock out Islam,” Makhachev said. “If I stay, they’re going to knock me out. But I’m going to try one time, two times, three times, he’s going to defend, but I’m going to still go. I told you guys in welterweight I don’t think someone can stop my wrestling.”
