The manager of Islam Makhachev has a message for the two men who have to fight to become his client's successor.
While Makhachev starts a new chapter in his career outside the lightweight division, his former opponent Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria are preparing to clash.
After having previously directed a shot against Makhachev, the opportunity of the Brazilian and Spaniard to catch the gold will come when they face each other on UFC 317 on 28 June.
The matchup set to conclude the International Fight Week festivities is invoiced as a struggle for the empty lightweight title, but the manager of Makhacheve sees it differently.
Ali Abdelaziz says that Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria are fighting for the 'Burger King Belt' on UFC 317
The always vocal Ali Abdelaziz recently posted X to clarify the lightweight title photo.
Although Makhachev is no longer mentioned as the CEO with 155 pounds, the CEO of Dominance MMA Management says that nothing has changed.
And with his conviction that the Dagestani will remain 'lightweight champion', Abdelaziz says that Oliveira and Topuria will fight for an illegal crown on UFC 317.
“I wouldn't really say much, but I just don't see people don't want to go any further,” wrote Abdelaziz.
'[Makhachev] Always becomes the lightweight champion, these two boys fighting, they fight for the Burger King calls, I wish people would be nice to each other, but hey it is what it is. “
I wouldn't really say much, but I just don't see people don't want to go any further.@Makhachevmma always becomes the lightweight champion, these two boys fighting they fight for the Burger King, I wish people would be nice to each other, but hey it is.
– Ali Abdelaziz (@Aliabdelaziz00) 15 May 2025
View tweet
The next fight of Islam Makhachev will be for another UFC title
While Topuria and Oliveira are starting their fighting camps for UFC 317, it will soon be expected that Makhachev will start preparing for their own title fight.
While he announced that Makhachev will leave the lightweight division, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that the Pound-for-Pond Koning will immediately get a shot at the welterweight gold.
That is currently in the hands of Jack della Maddalena, whose upset victory over Belal Muhammad on UFC 315 means that he will welcome Makhachev to 170 pounds.
The Australian will want to take revenge for the two victories of Makhachev on his countryman and frequent training partner, Alexander Volkanovski.
A date for Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev still has to be announced, but the manager of the latter has already rejected the talk that takes place on the annual pay-per-view of the UFC below.