Khabib Nurmagomedov Points to Jack Della Maddalena's Size Advantage Over Islam Makhachev Amid UFC Rule Change Push
With Ilia Topuria winning the UFC's 155-pound crown and Islam Makhachev slated to fight for the welterweight title later this year, the future of the promotion is certainly looking bright.
However, many fans were dismayed at the fact that they didn't get to see the two best fighters in the promotion settle their feud inside the Octagon.
Moreover, experts even cited that the Dagestani would make easy work of fighters at 170lbs, which included the reigning champion, Jack Della Maddalena. However, UFC Hall of Famer and Makhachev's mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, has other thoughts.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Believes Jack Della Maddalena to Be the Toughest Challenge of Islam Makhachev's Career
In a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev on the Hustle Show, Nurmagomedov said that JDM would be a much tougher opponent for Makhachev than Topuria.
'I think Maddalena is the toughest opponent in Islam's career. That's my opinion, not Charles, no one else. None of those other fighters. Not even Ilia, if that fight were to happen. That's just my personal opinion.'
The Hall of Famer cited JDM's size and strength as the reason for his analysis and added, 'First of all, Maddalena is twice the size of Ilia. Taller, bigger, stronger legs, bigger frame. His boxing is just as good.
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And, in grappling, he scrambles really well if you've watched him. For me, if I was preparing Islam for either Ilia or Maddalena, I'd be more concerned about Maddalena (than Ilia).'
With Dana White announcing the headliners for UFC 320 and UFC 321, it is possible that JDM and Makhachev would slug it out for the 170-pound gold at UFC 322 in November at Madison Square Garden.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Suggests a Big Change in the Current UFC Fight Rule Book
The UFC's standard rules in 2025 still follow the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, first introduced back in 2001.
These rules were brought in to help legitimize the sport, moving it away from its early reputation as "human cockfighting" during the late 1990s. With the new framework came time limits, judges, weight classes, and the 10-point must scoring system, all aimed at making MMA more professional and mainstream.
However, Khabib Nurmagomedov is now suggesting some major changes to these long-standing rules. He now mentors top talents like Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, guiding them toward championship success.
With his wealth of experience, Khabib believes it's time for a rule overhaul.
In the same interview with Zubayraev, Khabib shared a bold idea: 'I'd change the rules. Like, you step into the Octagon – regular fights are 15 minutes, title fights are 25, right? I'd say no rounds. No rounds at all. I always wondered – what's the point of rounds? What's the point of it all? It's for entertainment, they pause for ads and all of that.'
The UFC Hall of Famer believes the current round-based format prioritizes business and television over the purity of sport. He argued that eliminating rounds would make fights more authentic and less driven by commercial breaks.
'I get it – it's for business. But if we're talking sport, I'd get rid of rounds, no rounds at all. They just step in – that's it. There should be rules, no strikes to the back of the head, no groin strikes, that sort of thing, yeah, but I'd still get rid of rounds.'
Also read:
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren shares emotional ride-home message after surviving complex lung surgery
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