-
Brett Okamoto
In the event you had Jack Della Maddalena versus Islam Makhachev in your 2025 bingo card, congratulations — you are the one one! Della Maddalena’s sensible win over Belal Muhammad for the welterweight championship at UFC 315 modified the trajectory of the division and will have an enduring impact on different divisions down the road.
Within the co-main occasion, Valentina Shevchenko started her second profession title protection and as soon as once more proved she is among the best MMA fighters ever. Is a showdown with strawweight champion Zhang Weili subsequent? It might be time to place it in your bingo card.
Let’s talk about the almost certainly paths for Della Maddalena, Shevchenko and the opposite fighters on the UFC 315 important card.
Jack Della Maddalena, welterweight champion
What needs to be subsequent: Islam Makhachev
This sport is wild. Nobody — and I imply nobody — noticed a battle between Della Maddalena and Makhachev coming in 2025. Makhachev is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the earth and a longtime title. Della Maddalena is implausible, however removed from a family title. However, right here we’re, and I can not see any cause this battle will not occur. If the UFC was to have its means, I do not consider that is the matchup it could make. Dana White is just not notably keen on champions transferring up earlier than emptying weight courses, which Makhachev hasn’t carried out. However Makhachev has carried out the whole lot else the corporate has requested of him, and it’s now time for the corporate to return the favor in good religion. That is what he desires. Personally, I would choose to see Makhachev versus Ilia Topuria subsequent, however I feel we’ll find yourself seeing it will definitely. Matchup-wise, this is able to be an outstanding battle.
Wild card: Shavkat Rakhmonov
The one means this might occur is that if Della Maddalena suffered some undisclosed damage throughout Saturday’s win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. If he have been to want any prolonged time without work, that would change issues, however he seemed good to go.
Belal Muhammad, welterweight
What needs to be subsequent: Kamaru Usman
Whether or not Usman wins or loses his subsequent battle in opposition to Joaquin Buckley on June 14, that is the one to make. Muhammad and Usman have spoken publicly a few dustup between them on Usman’s podcast earlier this 12 months. If Usman defeats Buckley, he’ll doubtless be searching for a title shot subsequent, however the line is likely to be backed up. With Makhachev doubtlessly transferring up and Rakhmonov on deck, Usman may need to battle once more earlier than getting his shot. Both means, Muhammad-Usman is a battle that is smart and followers could be concerned with.
Wild card: Ian Machado Garry
This is not very doubtless. Machado Garry was the backup for the UFC 315 title battle Saturday, however sadly for him, I do not assume meaning he is subsequent. Machado Garry is in limbo, given the circumstances. He has a loss to Rakhmonov on his report, so it is unlikely he’ll soar the road in any means. He is likely to be pressured to battle once more, however a matchup with Muhammad doubtless would not curiosity the UFC all that a lot.
Valentina Shevchenko, ladies’s flyweight champion
What needs to be subsequent: Natalia Silva
It is one in all two choices: Silva or Zhang Weili. The Shevchenko-Zhang matchup is overdue at this level, and each ladies deserve that sort of battle. It could arguably be the largest ladies’s battle of the 12 months, pending Amanda Nunes‘ potential unretirement. On the identical time, we have waited this lengthy, so we’d as properly e-book Shevchenko and Zhang in opposition to the pure title challengers of their respective weight courses, as a result of every has a respectable one. Silva is deserving of a shot at 125 kilos, and she or he may very well be an actual drawback for Shevchenko. Virna Jandiroba deserves her shot at Zhang at strawweight, too. We have come this far. Let’s examine it by way of.
Wild card: Zhang
The UFC could be properly inside its rights to make this champion-versus-champion battle now, and I would not complain one bit if it did.
Manon Fiorot, ladies’s flyweight
What needs to be subsequent: Alexa Grasso
From what I noticed Saturday, Fiorot will win the 125-pound title in some unspecified time in the future in her profession. She was proper there in opposition to the perfect ladies’s flyweight to ever reside. All the talents have been there; she simply misplaced out to championship expertise and maybe a bit fatigue. A couple of small tactical changes to that efficiency might have had us calling Fiorot the champion proper now. Fiorot doubtless could be closely favored in opposition to Grasso, who’s on a two-loss skid after falling to Silva at UFC 315, nevertheless it’s the suitable battle to make.
Wild card: Maycee Barber
If Barber is ready to get previous Erin Blanchfield on Might 31, Barber-Fiorot would make lots of sense. Would the UFC do it and danger Barber taking a defeat to somebody coming off a title loss? The UFC doubtless will look to do the Grasso battle first, however relying on how issues shake out and whether or not Shevchenko is occupied with a champion-versus-champion matchup, we might see this one.