Islam Makhachev has consistently embraced challenges throughout his career. His well-known philosophy of fighting “anyone, anywhere, anytime” is even commemorated on a wall at the UFC Performance Institute, highlighting its significance to his approach.
Reflecting on this mindset in 2023 after an opponent change, Makhachev stated, “What does this title represent? It means you’re the best in the world and if you’re the best in the world it doesn’t matter who is standing across from you. What could I say? No? Never. Let’s do this.”
Given this history, it seems improbable that the same fighter would suddenly back away from a potential clash with former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. However, this narrative emerged after Makhachev announced his intention to vacate the lightweight title and move up to the 170-pound division to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight belt later this year. Topuria vocally accused Makhachev of avoiding him, with support from figures like analyst Chael Sonnen. Yet, UFC veteran Matt Brown strongly refutes this accusation.
“I’m very surprised people are saying that,” Brown remarked recently. “That’s a very silly thing to say. Islam ducking someone, that sentence just doesn’t make sense, those words. I just don’t see that at all.”
Brown further elaborated, noting similarities between Della Maddalena and Topuria. “As a matter of fact, Jack Della Maddalena is sort of a bigger version of Ilia in some respects. Great boxers with good power. That’s kind of their forte, great boxers with good power,” he said. Brown questioned the logic of moving up a weight class to fight a larger power boxer like Della Maddalena if the goal was to avoid a smaller one like Topuria.
Jack Della Maddalena, fresh off his title win against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, is widely recognized for his elite boxing skills and formidable knockout power in both hands. Physically, Della Maddalena stands taller at 5-foot-11 with a 73-inch reach, considerably larger than the 5-foot-7, 69-inch reach Ilia Topuria.
Makhachev himself falls between these two in size, being shorter than Della Maddalena with a smaller reach, but notably bigger than Topuria in both height and reach.
This size dynamic is another reason Brown dismisses the idea that Makhachev is avoiding a fight with Topuria, suggesting that facing Della Maddalena is arguably running headfirst into a more dangerous situation.
“Those two words just don’t go together — Islam and ducking,” Brown asserted. “It doesn’t add up in any sense of the word. There’s certainly situations of guys ‘ducking’ but you kind of have to define what ducking is, too. Are they going out of their way specifically to not fight a guy? Islam’s going for a bigger opportunity. I don’t think that’s ducking in any definition of the word that you can muster up.” Brown also touched on the public discourse, suggesting that “redneck fans talking or the Reddit fans” often dramatize situations, overlooking the business aspects. He reiterated his belief that Islam possesses “not a single ounce of ducking,” even suggesting he`d pursue opportunities at 185 or 205 pounds.
From a stylistic perspective, Brown, having spent his entire UFC career at welterweight, believes Makhachev is taking a considerable risk by moving up a division.
Despite Topuria`s impressive performance in the UFC, Brown stressed that weight classes exist for valid reasons and pondered whether Della Maddalena might pose a more difficult matchup for Makhachev.
Comparing the two potential opponents technically, Brown stated, “Just a bigger, stronger, as a matter of fact I would say Jack is even more technical than Ilia on the feet. Ilia, pound-for-pound, I would argue has more power but I would say Jack probably has more technique.”
Brown concluded that the fight against Della Maddalena is in no way a “safer fight” for Makhachev, calling the notion that he`s ducking a smaller boxer to face a bigger one “a very odd thing to say.”
A final consideration for Brown regarding Makhachev`s decision to seek welterweight gold is the impact on his legacy.
Makhachev currently holds the UFC lightweight record for consecutive title defenses with four, surpassing his coach Khabib Nurmagomedov`s three successful defenses.
By moving up and potentially claiming a second divisional title, Makhachev would join an elite group of multi-division champions. More significantly, the opportunity to defend that second belt could further cement his place in history.
“If Islam is able to stay on top of that division, that’s going to be epic,” Brown enthused. “We’ve already had the conversation is he greater than Khabib. He goes up and beats Jack, that kind of solidifies it right?” Brown speculated on Makhachev`s potential path to being considered the “greatest ever” if he were to defend the welterweight title multiple times against the division`s top contenders. He emphasized that these would not be easy fights, highlighting the depth of talent at 170 pounds. Brown finds this potential journey for Islam “a fascinating vision.”
