The UFC 315 main event this Saturday, set for the Bell Centre in Montreal, may determine the immediate future of the lightweight division.
It will not, however, dictate whether or not 155lb champ Islam Makhachev vacates the lightweight title. On that front, Makhachev made clear on Friday that he would be holding on to his belt.
“This Saturdays main event will define what’s my next move is,” Makhachev wrote on social media. “But regardless of outcome that fight, I’m not going to vacate my lightweight title! We might get real contender there!”
Currently, former featherweight champ Ilia Topuria, who vacated his own title to move to 155, and ex-lightweight champion Charles Oliveira are among the names on the short list to challenge Makhachev. The UFC 315 main event, however, has Belal Muhammad looking to defend his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena.
Makhachev and Muhammad are teammates, making a fight between the two unlikely at best. Should Australian Della Maddalena win, however, it could facilitate Islam Makhachev moving up to welterweight for a shot at a second title. That’s something the Dagestani star has been adamant about in recent years.
Earlier this week, UFC CEO and President Dana White admitted that there were a lot of “moving parts” regarding the lightweight title situation, while confirming that this Saturday’s welterweight headliner would have considerable influence on how things play out.
