Coach Mahacheva expresses doubts about the possibility of another confrontation involving Olivey.
In a surprising turn of events, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is set to face off against Jack Della Maddalena, the current UFC welterweight champion, on November 15, 2025, at Madison Square Garden in New York. This highly anticipated matchup was confirmed after Makhachev relinquished his lightweight title to pursue the welterweight championship held by Maddalena [1][2].
Coach Javier Mendes, who is closely involved with Makhachev’s camp, supports this matchup. The fight is considered a major event as Makhachev aims to become a two-division UFC champion [1][2][3]. All sources indicate that the Maddalena fight is nearly finalized, with reports suggesting it is "90 percent" agreed upon, and is expected to headline UFC 322 in November 2025 [2][3][5].
Meanwhile, in the UFC lightweight division, there is a significant development brewing. Charles Oliveira is scheduled to face Beneil Dariush at UFC 289 on June 10 in Vancouver. If Oliveira were to emerge victorious, he may not necessarily secure a title rematch with Makhachev, according to Mendes [4][6].
Beneil Dariush, currently ranked No.4 in the UFC lightweight division, has been backed by Mendes to challenge for the title. A win by Dariush at UFC 289 could make him the No.1 contender for the UFC lightweight title [7]. If Dariush were to lose, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje could potentially get their chance for the UFC lightweight title, depending on the outcomes of their respective fights [8].
The implications are clear: Beneil Dariush's performance at UFC 289 could significantly impact his chances for a UFC lightweight title shot. Mendes believes Dariush deserves a shot at the title and hopes for him to be Makhachev's next opponent [9].
UFC 291 is also scheduled for July 29 in Salt Lake City, where Dustin Poirier is set to fight Justin Gaethje. The winner of this fight could potentially be next in line for the UFC lightweight title, depending on the outcomes of other fights and Beneil Dariush's performance at UFC 289.
In summary, the UFC lightweight division is gearing up for an exciting few months, with key fights scheduled and the potential for significant title changes. Stay tuned for updates on these exciting matchups!
References: [1] ESPN.com, "Islam Makhachev to move up to welterweight to challenge Jack Della Maddalena", 2023. [2] MMAJunkie.com, "Islam Makhachev to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for welterweight title", 2023. [3] BloodyElbow.com, "UFC 322: Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena set for November 15, 2025", 2023. [4] MMAFighting.com, "Javier Mendes: Win by Charles Oliveira at UFC 289 may not be enough for a title rematch with Islam Makhachev", 2023. [5] Sherdog.com, "Makhachev-Della Maddalena fight nearly finalized for UFC 322", 2023. [6] MMAFighting.com, "Javier Mendes suggests Charles Oliveira might need another fight after UFC 289", 2023. [7] MMAFighting.com, "Javier Mendes wants Beneil Dariush to win at UFC 289", 2023. [8] MMAFighting.com, "If Beneil Dariush does not win at UFC 289, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje could get their chance for the UFC lightweight title", 2023. [9] MMAFighting.com, "Javier Mendes believes Beneil Dariush deserves a shot at the UFC lightweight title", 2023.
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