‘We got robbed of a superfight’: Fans react to Islam Makhachev fighting Jack Della Maddalena, not Ilia Topuria

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Islam Makhachev is signing up for a superfight. Just not the one many were expecting.

UFC CEO Dana White announced Tuesday that the lightweight champion is vacating his belt to jump up to the 170-pound division to face newly crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena.

The move was rumored for months, with Makhachev wanting to chase a second title, but not at the expense of close friend Belal Muhammad. That became a non-issue this past Saturday when Muhammad lost the welterweight title to Della Maddalena, clearing the path for Makhachev, who is set to fight Della Maddalena at a date and location still to be determined.

While the matchup could allow for Makhachev to add to his pound-for-pound legacy or for Della Maddalena to reach a new level of stardom, not everyone is thrilled that Makhachev is departing the lightweight division. Undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topuria vacated his title this past February in pursuit of glory at 155 pounds, and fight fans were suddenly this close to seeing arguably the two best fighters in the world face off.

Instead, Makhachev fights Della Maddalena, and Topuria now meets Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 on June 28 for a vacant lightweight title.

Check out reactions to the two matchups below.

theprettyboy

Embarrassing that he was in camp for 317, could have participated in the biggest fight of the year at the UFC’s biggest week, and still moved up after and fought Jack on the same timeline. We get robbed of a superfight between the two best P4P fighters in the sport all because Islam didn’t want any smoke with Ilia. But if it was Justin or Paddy the UFC was offering he would be fighting at 317. That Ilia-Islam fight will never happen now. Shame.

Patanouk

Islam is a mad man, I don’t see how he is gonna overcome the size difference, he was an average sized 155er while JDM is a huge 170er.

For the vacant belt I wish Dana could go back on his word about Arman needing another win and book Arman vs Ilia for because a title fight without Arman or Islam will just feel like a paper championship fight…

Tomato Can

This is the worst of all worlds. Makhachev and Topuria, 2 of the P4P elite, both move up to grab new belts, which means 3 divisions are disrupted and we don’t even get the Makhachev/Topuria superfight.

I really, really hate how the UFC is run now.

stippenstoh

Dumb fight. Hope Jack takes it.

Bloody_Hellbow

Interesting stat: Eddie Alvarez is the last LW champion to lose his title in the octagon.

someguy234

Fairplay vacating the belt. I understand why he would do it, he’s beaten all the relevant players and division, except the new guy who people apparently don’t want to see him fight because he used to be in a different division

theprettyboy

People “apparently” want to see him fight the guy because the guy is #2 P4P, just starched two GOATs and is only 10 lbs apart from Islam and moving up to his weight class. But yeah who wants to watch superfights

UK Watching

Would be great to see Ilia & Islam both get face planted. Their arrogance is next level.

rdb85

Just annoying, fight Ilia in July then Jack in November sorted…

Abstractions

Ilia last fought in October. Ilia should have fought a 155 opponent already for an islam fight to make sense given the context of islam defenses against volk. That matters as much as everyone wants to be impatient and just do it all over again with the new 145 “GOAT”.

Instead he sat around, making claims and false demands online like Conor mcgregor does. Delusions acting like he runs the company and what he says goes.

Not to mention he has taken zero damage and could have fought immediately and actually made the islam fight in July come into fruition naturally.

theprettyboy

This is one of the most delusional posts I’ve seen. The UFC promised Ilia the 155 title shot. They then began working on with Islam’s camp. The only hold up was the fact Islam was stone cold ducking Ilia and trying to fight Gaethje and then even Paddy instead. The UFC put their foot down and said Ilia the guy. Islam’s in camp, was training for 317, said he wouldn’t vacate. Now he’s went against his word, both by vacating and also by saying “anyone anytime”.

He robbed the fans of a superfight between the #1 and #2 P4P guys in the sport and it wouldn’t have interfered with his 170 title shot. But nice spin job lol are you a fan of MMA or just Islam?

By the way the “false claims” Ilia made were that he was fighting for the title and wanted Islam. Turns out Ilia’s claims were fact. Too bad it takes two to fight and Islam wanted no smoke.

thehivemind

I wonder how history will view Islam among LW champs? 4 defenses which is more than Khabib who had 3. That said, for various reasons Islam only defended against one top 5 ranked LW and half of his defenses came against a FW so one could argue it was a padded defense record, Khabib has a much higher strength of schedule with his defenses.

For Islam’s career overall I do think he can surpass Khabib by claiming and defending the WW belt as that’s a challenge Khabib didn’t partake in.

The_Welsh_Idiot

Featherweight

Featherweight (Short notice)

Number 4

Number 8 (Short Notice).

Nearly 3 years in the most stacked division and that’s the ‘legacy’ of defences left by the ‘P4P #1.

The UFC needs a long look at itself and the cadence of championship fights.

MikeEspi

Feel like Ilia chins Charles inside a round & JDM overpowers & overwhelms Islam, might even chin him.

BennyHillDariush

I lean Ilia over Charles and Islam over JDM. Either way, I’m looking forward to both fights.

pk76

After watching JDM’s last fight he didn’t look great to me. It was a very sloppy fight from both. Islam is way more well rounded and I think it’s a win for him.

LaRusso

Respect to both Topuria and Islam for vacating and not holding up their divisions. And respect to both for going after the tougher challenges rather than picking and choosing. These are real fighters.

Nicolas Caged

Do you think Islam actually knows that he’s vacating the belt? It sounds crazy. But I wouldn’t be totally shocked if he didn’t.

Dana: Sorry Islam, but I already told the people you’re vacating. So you kinda have to now. Jon? No he gets to hold up his division as long as he wants. He’s busy living his best life.

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