The hypocrisy in Islam Makhachev’s stance (and why Jack Della Maddalena now holds so much power)

In a roundabout way, Jack Della Maddalena has the fate of one man, two UFC divisions and three champions in his hands right now. That’s a lot of power to be toting up to Montreal for his welterweight title bout against Belal Muhammad next month.

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Muhammad is of course the one man — as in, the one man who stands between Della Maddalena and the top of the mountain. Yet, this is also really about lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who has his eyes on moving up to 170 pounds if Della Maddalena prevails in Quebec at UFC 315 on May 10.

If that weren’t enough, erstwhile featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, who gave his own division the ol’ Irish goodbye, has his eyes on Makhachev, and has been tracking his every move as he awaits word on his own title shot at lightweight. That potential fight — between Makhachev and Topuria — is a pound-for-pound spectacular, with enough perceivable invincibility to fill the Roman Coliseum.

Yet from the sounds of it — and this is where Islam keeps scribbling a mustache on the Mona Lisa — it all depends on Perth’s own Jack Della and how he performs in his first title fight.

If Belal beats him next month? We may end up getting that Islam-Ilia fight, which makes you wonder if this whole thing is strategic. Perhaps Makhachev is trying to drum up some rooting interest for his pal Belal the old-fashioned way (via blackmail), by saying we’ll only get what we want if Muhammad pulls through.

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In any case, it’s a hell of a way to go about business. What’s been fun about this logjam of anticipations is that Islam’s camp has so merrily made it known that Topuria’s inexperience as a lightweight is a nonstarter. Islam has already taken out featherweight guns straying into his territory before, which means Alexander Volkanovski, primarily, but also Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira and poor Renato Moicano, who had, like, 12 hours to prepare for his beating.

Islam covets natural 155-pounders coming for his title, people who are serious.

One such serious person is Arman Tsarukyan, who was lined up to get his shot in January before falling out of the fight at the 11th hour. Islam’s coach and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, thinks Tsarukyan should be the guy, given the loose logic outlined above.

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Tsarukyan, it should be noted, is also at the mercy of Della Maddalena’s punching power. He can only be unmoored from his station once Makhachev knows what he’s doing, and Islam ain’t budging until he gets clarity up above. Same presumably goes for Oliveira, who at this point is just a pair of glowing eyes in the shadows, shifting back and forth with every movement.

Right now, it’s like a circle of Wild West gunslingers with their pistols all drawn on each other — and Islam holding two guns at the ready with his arms crossed, aiming both ways. One false move and all hell breaks loose.

Anyway, Islam.

There is an obvious hypocrisy in play here coming out of Makhachev’s headquarters, which falls dangerously close to what nitpickers might call a “double standard.” If Makhachev’s main complaint about Topuria getting a crack at his title stems from Ilia’s greenhorn status at 155 pounds, what gives Islam the right to challenge for the welterweight title with no experience up there? Why are all these divisions being hijacked by a guy who, by his own logic, doesn’t deserve the chance?

Is it because Makhachev has cleaned out the division? Not with Ilia now a card-carrying member of the lightweight ranks, bubba. Not with Arman out there. Not with Paddy freaking Pimblett.

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You don’t commonly see this kind of eight-fighter pile-up in the UFC, because, generally speaking, champions aren’t granted that kind of leeway by the overlords on the other side of the mirror. It doesn’t help that Islam’s set of conditions also comes with a sad approval rating.

Imagine if he waits out the JDM-Muhammad fight and Jack Della wins. Imagine Makhachev makes the jump to welterweight to challenge the new champ. That means we are left without a fight against Topuria, which, without exaggeration, is something like the biggest buzzkill in the history of combat sports.

If we take the current matchmaking stalemate on its face, Islam’s dream scenario is the one that many fans like the least. Is it better to get Makhachev-Della Maddalena, or Makhachev-Topuria? In a 24-hour span, Topuria’s appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience” had well over 1 million views.

Weird times in the UFC. Maybe it’s because the UFC is waiting to make a splash as it negotiates its next broadcast rights deal. Or maybe it’s that there’s a sense in the air that the fights we want most are the hardest to get. We’re getting somewhat used to this. Tom Aspinall versus Jon Jones is the only logical fight for both sides, as it would unify the UFC heavyweight title and offer a resolution to the burning question — you know … the one that asks: who’s better?

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You’d like to think that a colossal heavyweight fight like that would tell us who the most powerful man in the UFC is. Yet, right now, that distinction might belong to the self-anointed master of puppets, Islam Makhachev, who wants to kick back until UFC 315 plays out.

As for JDM? It’s not just a title he’s fighting for, but the clarity of so many fates.