Javier Mendez believes Islam Makhachev is on a collision course with either Kamaru Usman or Ilia Topuria.
This Saturday, Makhachev moves up to 170 pounds to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight
title at UFC 322. Should he win, Makhachev will become the 11th two-division champion in UFC history, and cement himself as one of the best fighters of this generation. But his coach, Javier Mendez, knows that’s a tall task.
“I know what we’re dealing with. We’re dealing with a hell of a champion, that we respect,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “We have a huge amount of respect for him. Myself, personally, I watched the fight between him and Belal Muhammad seven times, and I’ve never done that with anybody. Seven times I watched it. That’s a lot, because I respect him. He’s good, man. He’s good. I believe we’re going to beat him, but we’re doing our homework. This guy is good, he’s really good.”
But for as good as “JDM” is, Mendez believes his charge is better. Makhachev has been undefeated for nearly a decade, and is currently riding a 15-fight win streak in the UFC, second-most all-time. Should he beat Della Maddalena on Saturday, Makhachev will tie Anderson Silva’s record for most consecutive UFC wins, and Mendez believes Makhachev is in great shape to do just that.
“He’s improved everywhere; the stand up, the ground, the conditioning, the mentality, you name it,” Mendez said. “This one, he’s eclipsed any other camp I’ve ever been with him. This is the best camp that I’ve ever seen him do with us. I’ve never witnessed him being this strong, this mentally prepared, and this hungry. He’s this hungry. So I know what I have and we have a hell of a challenger for that welterweight title, and I really, strongly believe we’re going to take that title. But it ain’t gonna be easy.”
But if Makhachev does win the welterweight title, the question then becomes, what next? The welterweight division is currently among the most loaded in the sport, with a logjam of contenders at the top right now. But Mendez thinks one man stands above the rest.
“The one guy I think probably deserves it more than everybody, based on his title run when he was the champ, is Kamaru Usman,” Mendez said. “Look what he just did with [Joaquin] Buckley. He stopped the hype train, and did it in impressive fashion. So I would think that his hat has got to be in there as a contender for that title. His title run, being the greatest welterweight of all time, in my opinion, has got to be in there, too.
“For us, it would suck, because we care about the guy, too. But it’s a business, and whatever is going to happen is going to happen. Even Belal [Muhammad], it is what it is. We didn’t want to fight Belal, but what if Belal wins and we win and all of a sudden we get offered a fight with him? It’s going to be up to the fighters to decide, but it’s going to suck for us on both of those, if any of those happen.”
And if it’s not Usman, Mendez thinks the other option that makes the most sense is a champ-champ matchup with Ilia Topuria. That fight has been one of the most talked about hypothetical matchups in recent years, but fell apart when Makhachev moved up to 170. But with the UFC looking to make a big splash with the White House card next year, Mendez thinks it would make sense.
“If you’re asking me what the fans are going to want to see, I’m going to have to go with Topuria,” Mendez said. “If we manage to get the win like we’re expecting and wanting to, I would think that Dana is all about creating the most, biggest buzz, and I think the biggest buzz is Topuria, if he goes up in weight. If that’s what happens.
“So right now, I can see so many different scenarios happening, but those two are the top of the list, in my opinion.”
TOP STORIES
Fantasy. Francis Ngannou: Jon Jones matchup at UFC White House would be ‘biggest fight of all-time.’
Goals. ‘Put him back in his place’: Jack Della Maddalena wants to prove Islam Makhachev doesn’t belong at welterweight.
Breakdown. Dustin Poirier breaks down UFC 322 main event between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev.
Guilt. ‘Guilty by association’: Steve Garcia laments how fight-fixing allegations hurt everybody after he beat Isaac Dulgarian’s teammate.
Increase. Paramount+ price increase coming in 2026 as UFC broadcast deal kicks off.
VIDEO STEW
UFC 322 Embedded, ep. 1
The best UFC fights at MSG (not sure about that first one….)
Alexander Volkanovski dives deep into steak.
Kamaru Usman says stuff.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
Fighter vs. Writer.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
JDM at the Rangers game.
Correct take.
Stipe Miocic likes to party.
And arguably on the best run of her career.
Refreshing self-awareness.
The new champ.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dillon Danis (3-0) vs. Anthony Taylor (7-5); Misfits Mania, Dec. 20.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’m not saying it’s 0%, but I am skeptical the UFC would allow Topuria to move up to a weight class he would have no realistic shot at reigning in. Not so soon, anyway.
Nope, this really feels like everyone is on the same page and the plan is for Makhachev vs. Usman, if Islam wins the title. Which would be a pretty terrible title shot, in the history of things, but I guess not the worst that’s ever been handed out. Brutal for the other 7 deserving dudes at 170 pounds though.
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