Issue 217

May 2025

E. Spencer Kyte breaks down the UFC’s most electrifying division, where Jack Della Maddalena holds the crown and high-quality contenders just keep coming.

Throughout the UFC’s history, the marquee division has almost always been welterweight. Others have been in the spotlight, like the light heavyweight division reigned supreme from Frank Shamrock’s run through the Tito, Chuck, and Randy days. There’s also the hot potato period, where no champion could successfully defend the title more than once. However, few divisions have offered the ever-present excitement. Trace the title's history, and you will weave through a collection of legendary fighters and memorable moments. These include standouts like Matt Hughes and B.J. Penn, plus the emergence of Georges St-Pierre and his stunning loss to Matt Serra before reclaiming the title and lording over the division until his departure following UFC 167. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ enjoyed a strong five-fight run with the welterweight title. Usman’s reign was ended spectacularly thanks to ‘Headshot, Dead!’ where Leon Edwards’ two-fight, two-year run was cut short by Belal Muhammad. Last month, Jack Della Maddalena took the reins from Muhammad with a sharp, workmanlike effort at UFC 315, becoming the 15th welterweight champion in UFC history. In doing so, he climbs to the top of a division that is, at present, deeper and more fascinating than ever. The division is now making a case for being the best overall collection of talent in the UFC, giving fans plenty to consider as we gear up for an electric run of fights. 

THE NEW CHAMP

Della Maddalena wasn’t supposed to be the one facing Muhammad for the title at UFC 315, but he made the absolute most of his opportunity. Initially scheduled to face Edwards in the main event of the UFC’s annual March journey to London. A shuffling of the deck due to injuries resulted in the Australian using his toolbox to outwork Muhammad. The victory pushed his winning streak to 18 straight and his record inside the Octagon to 8-0. Della, the third Dana White’s Contender Series graduate to claim UFC gold, didn’t reach the big leagues with the kind of hype that accompanied some of the other contenders. He was a jack of all trades that occasionally put himself in bad positions and had to work hard for his wins. In a time when people wanted to see competitors steamrolling their way to the top with a series of blistering efforts, this scrappy MMA fighter was a true blue-collar grinder. However, returning from a 14-month absence brought on by a broken arm that didn’t necessarily want to heal right the first and upending Muhammad wasn’t something that many people had on their 2025 bingo cards.

WINNING THE BELT

The performance was a signature Maddalena effort: crisp boxing from both stances flecked with the kind of bodywork that makes hardcore fight fans (and coaches) smile. While Muhammad had his moments, those exchanges seemed like a dream come true for the game's new champion. We’ve become oddly accustomed to lengthy winning streaks. Della going 18 consecutive fights without a loss and a perfect eight-for-eight inside the Octagon barely registered with people, but it is astonishing. The list of fighters who have won eight straight isn’t very long. And now it includes the new champion, too. He’ll need to get through arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet later this year. Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is seeking “double champ” status. Makhachev has won 15 straight in the UFC, setting a new record for the most consecutive successful lightweight title defenses. He’s 27-1 overall, one of the most complete fighters in the sport, and has arguably surpassed Khabib Nurmagomedov as the best lightweight of all time. Ten years without a loss in one of the most competitive divisions is remarkable. As much as the division didn’t need Makhachev, his arrival and impending clash with Della Maddalena move to the top of the list of most anticipated fights on the horizon.

THE FORMER CHAMPS

A trio of ex-champions also remain in the thick of things. Muhammad’s loss to Della Maddalena at UFC 315 was his first setback. The Chicagoland native is unlikely to go quietly into the night after the arduous road he traveled to finally land a championship opportunity. Perhaps his performance in Montreal was the result of an off night, a poorly crafted game plan, or just Della Maddalena being far more skilled. You can be sure that the 36-year-old will be back this year. Edwards is in a different position. His two recent losses made him look like he couldn’t get out of first gear, and his next could be his biggest. He’s only faced some of the current elite, and a hungry upstart aiming to usurp his place in the rankings could be in his future. Putting ‘Rocky’ in a position where he needs to stand his ground might bring out the best in him. Usman also has an opportunity to show exactly where he stands later this month when he returns to action for the first time since 2023. This feels like a do-or-die fight for the 38-year-old former titleholder. A strong showing over Buckley would show he still has plenty of offer, while a fourth consecutive loss would likely send him tumbling down the rankings.

THE CONTENDER CLASS

Shavkat Rakhmonov was scheduled to challenge Muhammad for the title at UFC 310, only to be forced out of the contest due to a bone infection. The Kazakhstani stayed on the card and registered another win, pushing his record to 19-0 overall. When Muhammad was ready, Rakhmonov was sidelined with an injury, opening the door for Della Maddalena. The 30-year-old ‘Nomad’ opened as a considerable favorite to beat Muhammad and has been tabbed as a future champion since his first appearance inside the Octagon. The new champion isn’t the only one to benefit from Rakhmonov being sidelined these last couple of months, as Sean Brady used his absence and a dominant win over Edwards to rise to No. 2. Brady’s record currently stands at 18-1, with his only setback coming against Muhammad at UFC 280. Since then, the Philadelphia native has posted three straight wins. While a little snake-bitten by injuries, the 32-year-old contender seems to have put that behind him and is willing to face whomever he needs to maintain his place in the queue.

SURE THINGS?

Machado Garry has continued to bolster his standing since his short-notice loss to Rakhmonov. The Irishman halted the meteoric rise of Fighting Nerds representative Carlos Prates. A couple of weeks later, he turned up in Montreal to serve as the backup for the UFC 315 main event. His effort against Rakhmonov elevated Machado Garry’s stock. Honestly, He could be the best of the bunch and should remain a staple in the title chase for the foreseeable future.

All Buckley has done since dropping to the 170-pound ranks is win, posting a 6-0 mark that includes consecutive wins over Thompson and Covington last year. Later this month, he looks to complete the “previous generation hat trick” by taking out the former champion Usman. If he’s successful, ‘New Mansa’ will stamp himself as a truly legitimate threat. After going 5-4 over his nine middleweight appearances, including his otherworldly knockout of Impa Kasanganay, Buckley has brought his explosiveness to welterweight. That may sound cliche, but watch his mauling of Vicente Luque at the start of last year, the way he suddenly ended things with Thompson, or his third-round stoppage win over Colby Covington in the final UFC bout of 2024, and it becomes apparent that the streaking wild card is someone not to be taken lightly. Beating Usman may not carry as much weight today as it would have a year ago, but the former champion has only lost to two people in the UFC. It would remain a quality victory that would mandate he be included in any title conversations.

THE YOUNG BUCK

The newest addition to this collective is its youngest member, 25-year-old Michael Morales, who claimed his place in this group with a first-round stoppage win over Burns to move to 18-0 overall. Morales earned his place on the UFC roster like the new champion with a win on Season 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series. He followed it up with six consecutive wins to begin his time competing inside the Octagon. He forced his way into the Top 15 last year with a vicious first-round stoppage win over Neil Magny, downing him with a slick spinning elbow out of a clinch entanglement before patiently putting away Burns's previous time out to claim a spot in the Top 10. While some may want to downplay the win over the Brazilian veteran, given the 38-year-old former title challenger has now lost four straight and five of his last seven, looking beyond just the results reveals that he’s still competing against the best the division has to offer. Morales has the biggest remaining question marks of this group of impressive talents, as he’s yet to reach his athletic and physical primes. He is only four years into his UFC journey and still has considerable room to grow as a fighter. He has a tremendous frame for the division. A move to middleweight somewhere down the line wouldn’t be surprising. If his grappling catches up to his striking, the Entram Gym product could become even more of a handful for future opponents.

WHY EVERYONE IS EXCITED

The bout between Buckley and Usman is the only matchup involving Top 10 fighters on the books at welterweight, with a date and location for the title fight between Della Maddalena and Makhachev all that’s missing from that matchup. Beyond that, everything is open, and the options available to the UFC matchmakers are thrilling to consider. A bout between Rakhmonov and Brady to determine who gets the next championship opportunity? Let’s do it. Machado Garry and Brady sometime soon if Rakhmonov needs a little more time before he’s ready to return. Grand. Or do you stick ‘The Future’ back in with the winner of the Buckley-Usman bout, either realigning him with the man he was scheduled to face last December before he stepped up to face Rakhmonov or putting him in there with a former champ? Muhammad is sure to face someone from the group of five ascending contenders. That’s the beauty of things right now. Suppose you include Della Maddalena, Makhachev, and the three former champions. In that case, you have 10 established, compelling fighters to mix and match to produce the most captivating collection of fights over the remainder of the year. From there, the division will ebb and flow with the results, creating more interesting potential pairings regardless of who emerges victorious and who is seated on the throne. Everything evolves as a division should.

AND THERE ARE STILL MORE TO CONSIDER

Along with all the names already mentioned, there are still more intriguing talents and unproven prospects to keep tabs on. Prates may have lost to Garry, but he’s too dangerous to be counted out. Geoff Neal hung tough with Rakhmonov, dropped a split decision to the Irish contender, and has always been profiled as someone who could be a contender. Ultimate Fighter winner Bryan Battle is unbeaten in his last five, 5-1, with one no contest since dropping to the 170-pound weight class, and only 15 fights into his career. Gabriel Bonfim is another DWCS grad with upside, having gone 4-1 through his first five UFC appearances to advance to 17-1 overall. And don’t sleep on Oban Elliot, another Contender Series alum who has experienced nothing but success. After earning decision wins over Val Woodburn and Preston Parsons, ‘The Welsh Gangster’ turned in his best performance to date at UFC 309. Toss in promotional neophytes Jacobe Smith and Jonathan Micallef, Canadian finisher Mike Malott, and menacing Brazilian Carlos Leal, and you have another quartet of competitors that could contribute to the welcomed chaos that will likely come in the months ahead.

ENTERTAINMENT CENTRAL

This is the dream scenario for fight fans and likely for the promotion. It’s a well-stocked division featuring several established names, promising fighters with undefined ceilings, and an abundance of combinations. Where rematches and stagnation have created a stale feeling in several weight classes, welterweight feels exciting. It’s a division that could look considerably different in six months, 12 months, and 24 months without ever hitting a point where things feel bogged down. That may not come to pass, but the potential is intoxicating. There is a chance that we get treated to a host of fascinating fights and possible career-defining moments for as impressive a collection of talent as has ever existed at the top of the division at one time. Cross your fingers, knock on wood, and pray to the Fight Gods that this unprecedented situation produces at least 50 percent of the amazingness ahead. That way, when we get 75 percent of what we all wish for (or more), everyone can come away satisfied.