Islam Makhachev has several options for his next UFC fight, but one contender stands out. Since defeating Jack Della Maddalena to claim the UFC welterweight title late last year, Makhachev has remained inactive while waiting for his next challenge. On the same card, several welterweight fighters delivered strong performances, including Michael Morales, Carlos Prates, and Ian Machado Garry, all of whom see themselves as potential title contenders.
Makhachev’s manager points to frontrunner
After beating Della Maddalena, Makhachev surprised fans by expressing interest in fighting Kamaru Usman next. Usman has gone 1-3 in his last four fights and appears to have declined in performance over recent years. Despite that and other deserving contenders, Makhachev’s team identifies Usman as the current frontrunner for a title fight.
“They’re discussing the next fight, and Kamaru Usman is on the list of possible opponents,” Makhachev’s manager Rizvan Magomedov told Sport24. “If you ask us, we’d also like that fight because it is one of the biggest fights that can be made in the division right now. As always, the final word is with the organization. Islam is ready to defend. From a media perspective, a fight with Kamaru Usman would be the most interesting and watchable for the public.”
Although Magomedov tries to generate excitement, many fans remain uninterested in this matchup and consider it a mismatch. Despite fan opinion, Makhachev vs Usman may be next, and the former champion appears to have started preparing, posting training clips on social media.
UFC’s matchmaking challenges
Over the past year, the UFC has shown a pattern of letting popularity outweigh merit when deciding fights. While this trend frustrates fans, Michael Morales and Ian Machado Garry could now face each other in a number one contender bout, with the winner securing a guaranteed title shot against Makhachev.
The welterweight division faces a mix of high-profile matchups and deserving challengers, leaving the next few months critical for shaping the championship picture. Fans may need to accept Makhachev vs Usman as the headline fight, while other contenders prepare for their opportunity.
