Makhachev to face Della Maddalena
For a good while, it was thought that if Islam Makhachev took a shot at the welterweight title, he'd have his lightweight belt to fall back on.
After all, two-division champion status has become a coveted resume line in MMA, and Makhachev recently said he planned to challenge new welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena after he upset Belal Muhammad for the belt at UFC 315 – and made every indication he still had work to do at lightweight.
But Tuesday, UFC CEO Dana White announced Makhachev has vacated the 155-pound title. It was presumed when Ilia Topuria vacated the featherweight title to move up to lightweight, that it was for a shot at Makhachev's belt. Instead, Topuria will headline UFC 317 against former champ Charles Oliveira for the now-vacant 155-pound title.
"Current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is going to move up to the welterweight division to face Jack Della Maddalena," White said Tuesday on Instagram. "What do we all love about Islam? If he had moved up to fight Belal, he was a 5-to-1 favorite. Moving up to fight Jack? The oddsmakers have this fight at even. This guy is a beast. Islam is the f*cking best."
With some exceptions, the days of simultaneous two-division UFC champions might be over. When Topuria announced he had vacated the 145-pound title, he intimated he wasn't given the option of keeping it if he moved up. And now the same may be true for Makhachev.
Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), White said, will get a title fight in his first bout at welterweight against new champ Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC). Topuria surprisingly vacated the featherweight title earlier this year, there was debate about whether he would get an immediate title shot in his move up. It will happen, just not in the way people expected against Oliveira, and perhaps only thanks to Makhachev vacating his belt..
Makhachev, 33, set the UFC record for consecutive title defenses at 155 pounds with wins over Renato Moicano, Dustin Poirier and Alexander Volkanovski twice. The Khabib Nurmagomedov protege was upset in his second UFC fight nearly 10 years ago, but hasn't lost since then.
Chimaev v du Plessis
Moreover, CEO Dana White confirmed that UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is set to defend his belt against undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev in the headline bout of UFC 319 on 16 August at the United Center in Chicago.
The event marks the promotion's first return to Chicago since UFC 238 in 2019, and it promises to deliver a high-stakes clash between two of the division's top fighters.
Du Plessis, who has not lost since joining the UFC in 2020, captured the middleweight title by edging Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297.He went on to submit Israel Adesanya in the fourth round at UFC 305 and followed it up with a unanimous decision win over Strickland in their February 2025 rematch at UFC 312.
Meanwhile, Chimaev enters the fight with an unblemished record and growing hype, having delivered eight wins in the UFC, six of them by stoppage.
The Chechen-born star made his strongest case for a title shot by submitting former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308a performance awarded 2024 Submission of the Year.
Though Chimaev's rise has been marked by sporadic activity due to injuries and visa issues, his dominance when active has kept him firmly in the title conversation.
The upcoming bout against du Plessis offers him his long-awaited chance to claim UFC gold.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Seville storms past Lyles for Lausanne 100m win
Caption: Noah Lyles is beaten by Jamaica's Oblique Seville in the men's 100m. Photo: AFP Jamaica's Oblique Seville trumped Olympic champion Noah Lyles in the 100m at Wednesday's Diamond League meet in Lausanne, just three weeks away from the world championships in Tokyo. Once again, Lyles stuttered out of the blocks, a slow start handing Seville the advantage from the start, something the Jamaican then never looked in danger of ceding. Seville clocked an impressive 9.87 seconds in torrential rain at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lyles battling back in a strong finish to snatch second in 10.02sec. "Running 9.87 in those conditions shows I can go much faster, anywhere in the world, that's a good time," said Seville, who won a world bronze as part of the Jamaican 4x100m relay squad in Budapest in 2023. It was a repeat of last month's London Diamond League when the 24-year-old Seville also got the better of the American. "I've beaten the Olympic champion twice, in London and here, and that gives me a lot of confidence heading into the championships. It's been a while since a Jamaican man has won the 100m at a global championship, and of course, I believe I can be the one to do it." Lyles was left to rue a "horrible reaction to the gun. That was the only thing wrong." "Technically I felt good, my warm-up was good, but once you miss the start at this level the race is basically over," he said. "Physically I feel great, and I am confident every race will get better and better. The goal is to sharpen the details, especially my drive phase and my start, heading to Tokyo and the world championships." Kenya's Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi also suffered a setback as American Josh Hoey claimed victory in the 800m. Hoey, the reigning world indoor champion, held his own down the home straight for victory in 1:42.82. "I wanted to get out hard, let the leaders take the rain, and then make my move with 100 to go," said Hoey. "It felt like being a kid again, playing in the rain. I've never raced in anything like this before. It reminded me of cross-country growing up, where it comes down to being the toughest and the most patient." Wanyonyi looked out of it with 200m to run, but battled back for second in 1:43.29 ahead of Spain's Mohamed Attaoui and Briton Max Burgin, with Canadian world champion Marco Arop in fifth. But there was no such drama for Britain's Olympic women's 800m gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson, who continued her comeback with a meet record over the two-lap discipline in 1:55.69 ahead of Switzerland's Audrey Werro. "When the pace goes like that, you just forget about everyone else," said Hodgkinson, who returned to the track last week in Silesia after 12 months out with hamstring problems since winning at the Paris Games. "And it paid off with a solid performance. I couldn't have asked for a better start this season." Cordell Tinch continued his fine season form by clocking an impressive 12.98sec in the men's 110m hurdles. "I felt great through the warm-up, this is my kind of weather! This result feels great," said Tinch.
Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Ten Hag hoping for fresh start at rebuilding Leverkusen
Caption: Bayern Leverkusen coach Erik Ten Hag has been handed the task of rebuilding the club. PHOTO: AFP One year on from their stunning unbeaten Bundesliga title triumph, new Bayern Leverkusen coach Erik Ten Hag has been handed the task of rebuilding the club, along with his own reputation. Leverkusen open their Bundesliga season at home against Hoffenheim on Saturday after a turbulent summer, with high-profile departures on and off the pitch, rendering the side unrecognisable from the 2023-24 double winners. The architect of that success, Xabi Alonso, has moved on to Real Madrid and taken his backroom staff with him. Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong and Lukas Hradecky -- all pillars in Leverkusen's double-winning season -- also left this summer, with others rumoured to be heading out the door. In their place are several exciting if inexperienced newcomers, including Jarell Quansah, Malik Tillman and Ernest Poku, with a few more reportedly on their way. With his reputation taking a hit after a difficult spell at Manchester United, despite winning the FA Cup and League Cup, Ten Hag is also seeking a reboot. The Dutchman said as much in his opening press conference in August. When asked about following on from Leverkusen's glory days, the 55-year-old said "you can't sail today on the wind from yesterday." The coach was confident but asked for patience, saying it would take him a while to weave his magic. "No one is Harry Potter, building a team so quickly and being successful at the same time. That's not how top-level football works." In Ten Hag's debut in the German Cup on Friday, Leverkusen overcame some early nerves -- and a 45-minute storm interruption -- to beat fourth-division Grossaspach 4-0. The coach praised his charges after the win but said "you can see that not all the processes are working yet. It takes time." Away from the scrutiny he faced at Old Trafford, one of the world's biggest clubs, Ten Hag will be given time at Leverkusen. In an interview with AFP and other media last week, former Germany, United States and Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann backed Ten Hag to "drive Leverkusen to their maximum of success. "Leverkusen have to redefine their goals, because you cannot expect them to win the championship now. "The goal will be getting to a Champions League spot and maybe winning the German Cup, and doing well in Europe as well. "Erik absolutely has the knowledge, the charisma and the capabilities to do really well." Normally not one to rock the boat, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane hit out at his side's lack of transfer activity ahead of his third season in the Bundesliga. Fresh from scoring the opener in Saturday's 2-1 Super Cup win over Stuttgart, Kane said he felt the side were "light" and hoped for more reinforcements. "It's one of the smallest squads I've played in," Kane told reporters after the win. "(But) there's still time until the end of the transfer window. "We have a couple of really good young players who have done well in the pre-season games but we're a little light if we're being honest." After losing Thomas Mueller, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Joao Palhinha, Eric Dier and Mathys Tel, Bayern have brought in only two experienced signings: Germany centre-back Tah and winger Luis Diaz, who scored the winner on Saturday. With Jamal Musiala injured and unlikely to return until 2026, Kane will need to carry a heavier burden than usual up front.
Express Tribune
19 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Errani, Vavassori retain US Open mixed doubles title
Caption: Italy's Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani celebrate with the trophy after winning their mixed doubles final at the US Open. PHOTO: AFP Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori retained their US Open mixed doubles title on Wednesday, beating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud to claim the $1 million top prize in the new-look competition that kicked off action at the last Grand Slam of the year. The Italians capped two days of intense work in the 16-team event with a 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 victory over Swiatek and Ruud -- who were among a slew of singles stars drawn not only by the big purse but also by the chance to contest mixed doubles before singles action begins on Sunday. Poland's Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion ranked second in the world, battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open on Monday then hot-footed it to New York to team up with Norway's Ruud in the revamped competition. Carlos Alcaraz, men's champion in Cincinnati, also turned out but he and British playing partner Emma Raducanu were eliminated on Tuesday, as was superstar Novak Djokovic, who teamed with fellow Serb Olga Danilovic. The star names drew big crowds but the chemistry between Italians Errani and Vavassori, cultivated over a two-year on-court partnership that also saw them win the French Open title this year, proved decisive. Errani hoped it showed that committed doubles teams -- many of whom were shut out of the field -- have plenty to offer. "I think this one is also for all the doubles players that couldn't play this tournament," Errani said as she and Vavassori accepted the trophy. "I think this one is also for them." Errani and Vavassori roared to a 4-1 lead in the opening set of the championship match and after Swiatek and Ruud regained one break, closed it on a confident hold from Vavassori. Down a break at 4-5 in the second, Swiatek and Ruud won three straight games to force the 10-point match tiebreaker. The Italians grabbed a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker and held on. "Congratulations," Swiatek said at the trophy presentation. "You proved that, I guess, mixed doubles players are smarter tactically than singles players. "But we pushed until the end. We tried to make it competitive." The first three rounds -- including the semi-finals on Wednesday night -- were played with short sets with no-advantage scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set, before the final reverted to traditional sets with a 10-point match tiebreak. Swiatek and Ruud had clawed their way past top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper with a 3-5, 5-3, 10-8 semi-final victory, winning the last six points to advance. Errani and Vavassori romped past the American duo Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison 4-2, 4-2 to reach the final. Vavassori admitted he and Errani were on a "mission" to prove themselves against the singles stars. But both relished the electric atmosphere under the lights on the jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium Court. "It's the court where I feel goosebumps every time here," Errani said. Vavassori also enjoyed the "amazing atmosphere" and thanked organizers for putting mixed doubles in the spotlight. "I have to say that we showed today that doubles is a great product," he said. "I think it was amazing to play on this court with so many people and I have to say thanks from the bottom of my heart for the atmosphere."
