UFC welterweight and analyst Stephen Thompson weighs in on a potential UFC title fight between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev.
While some spectators see Islam Makhachev as a future UFC welterweight champion, others remain skeptical – including Stephen Thompson.
Thompson, a former title challenger at 170 pounds, thinks Makhachev’s championship hopes a weight class above are far from a guarantee. Despite being considered the pound-for-pound best by many, Stephen believes Makhachev will struggle with the size difference most welterweight presents – including the current champion Jack Della Maddalena.
“I don’t know, man,” Thompson told Submission Radio when asked who would win a fight between Della Maddalena and Makhachev. “When you go up to the welterweight division, those are just some big boys. I know Islam Makhachev walks around heavy, but a lot of these 170’s walk around real heavy. I’m talking about over 205, 210 and 215 some of the guys that I have faced walk around that weight. I think the height, they might be the same. I think JDM might be a little taller, but when it comes to their strengths, Islam I think is going to have a tough time.
“Do I think he can get it done? Yes. I think he’s that good of a grappler. But like I said, I think JDM has faced some of the best grapplers and welterweights in the division, Belal being one of them. I think it’s going to be a tough night for him.”
Makhachev’s chances of fighting for the UFC welterweight title skyrocketed Saturday when Della Maddalena dethroned Belal Muhammad in the UFC 315 main event. Makhachev has waited to move up a division for some time, but wasn’t willing to fight his friend Muhammad. Now that Della Maddalena is champion, the possibility is very real.
Thompson thinks a move up to 170 pounds for Makhachev would be big for the sport. That said, he was hoping to see Makhachev stay at 155 pounds and defend his belt there against Ilia Topuria, who recently moved up after vacating the UFC featherweight title.
“I would like to see Islam fight Topuria. That’s just me,” Thompson said. “I would love to see that fight happen, but if he comes up, we’ll see what the UFC gets behind, and we all know we have to convince the UFC to make it happen.”
