Islam Makhachev, the newly crowned UFC welterweight champion, is standing firm on his decision to face former champion Kamaru Usman next, even though many fans are questioning the move.
At UFC 322 last November, Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena to capture his second title in a different weight class. The win also placed him back at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, pushing Ilia Topuria down and continuing their rivalry.
Choosing the Toughest Challenge
Despite a list of rising welterweight contenders—including Michael Morales, Carlos Prates, and Ian Machado Garry—Makhachev confirmed he wants Usman as his next opponent. This choice has sparked debate, as Usman’s recent record shows only one win in four fights, that being against Joaquin Buckley, currently ranked tenth in the division.
Speaking to Red Corner MMA, Makhachev explained:
“I said that I wanted to fight Kamaru Usman next. Although the media doesn’t believe in this fight as I can see, but in my opinion, Usman would steamroll through each of these up-and-comers like Morales, Prates, the striker [Machado Garry]. Those guys haven’t been checked yet. I think Usman would be the hardest fight for me, and in terms of media, we could build it up, like a former champion, the most title defenses in my weight division, we could promote this fight well and make it fun to watch. As for Buckley, he was one of the contenders and Usman simply took him apart and everybody has already forgotten about this guy but if Buckley won, he would’ve been 100% number one contender.”
Islam Makhachev says he wants to fight Kamaru Usman next since it would be the toughest fight in the division for him 👀
“The media doesn’t believe in this fight, but in my opinion Usman would steamroll through each of these up-and-comers like Morales, Prates…
Those guys… pic.twitter.com/eQuxTfXmKV
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 10, 2025
Carlos Prates, who recently knocked out Leon Edwards, had hoped to secure a title shot. With Makhachev fully committed to Usman, Prates and other top contenders will need to recalibrate their plans. Meanwhile, Usman has indicated he may face Della Maddalena in a separate title eliminator, allowing Makhachev to pursue his preferred matchup.
Makhachev emphasized that his decision balances competitive challenge with promotional potential, aiming to face the most demanding opponent rather than simply the highest-ranked fighter.
