Shocking Moves in the UFC: Islam Makhachev Stripped and Division Chaos
If you follow MMA, you know it’s never boring, but even longtime fans felt the shockwaves from this week’s headline: Islam Makhachev stripped of his UFC lightweight title. The move sent the entire lightweight and welterweight picture into chaos, sparking debate and some real heat during this episode. The most significant talking point? Islam is moving up to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the 170 lb belt, leaving a vacant lightweight title, and Ilia Topuria is quick to claim Islam is “running” from him. It’s got fighters, fans, and even Dana White scrambling.
Dave Simon summed up the feeling:
“The UFC then seems to have stripped Islam of the 155-pound championship…when it was my impression that Islam would be moving up to 170 and then possibly moving back down to 155 and defend both belts.” He went on:
“The UFC doesn’t seem too happy with that because they want two different champions so that they can have those guys fighting more often and more championships defended on the main event of their pay-per-view, right?”
The switch-up didn’t land well with everyone, and some audience members were just as fired up as the hosts.
- AJ D’Alesio: “Why is everything being catered to Islam on the job at this point?”
- Dave Simon: “Islam is like, I’m going to go up and fight Jack Della at 170 because I’ve cleaned out the division. Like, I like Islam but he’s pissing me off.”
There’s a sense among both the hosts and fans that Islam is getting special treatment, with one big-money fight upstaging the traditional contender route. But the hosts didn’t hold back on what they think the best fight should’ve been.
Dave Simon:
“The big money fight would be the 145 champion moving up to fight the 155 champion because Topuria…wants to move up and fight Islam, who’s like the scariest guy in combat sports, and Islam is like, I’m going to go up and fight Jack Della at 170 because I’ve cleaned out the division…he’s really pissing me off.”
UFC 315: Jack Della Maddalena Dethrones Belal Muhammad in Montreal Mayhem
While all eyes were on Islam’s division shuffle, UFC 315 itself delivered in a big way, especially for Montreal fans. Jack Della Maddalena scored a major win over Belal Muhammad to become the new welterweight champ, and the Bell Centre was rocking.
Dave Simon called it:
“You saw what we saw: Jack Della Maddalena defeating Belal Muhammad. Now that set off a domino effect. The win set things in motion for two divisions and multiple championships—three divisions, really.”
AJ D’Alesio shared what it was like inside the Bell Centre:
“Let me tell you, man. I don’t know what happened. They gave away a lot of tickets…Regardless, it was an insane, insane night . I’ve never heard anything louder than that. I’ve been to Canadiens games and nothing comes close.”
The win and the energy in Montreal totally changed the mood around UFC in Canada. Even with the earlier complaints about ticket sales and high prices, the Bell Centre ended up at capacity.
AJ D’Alesio:
“Expectations were so low…all of a sudden I was getting texts from everybody…‘This is like the greatest’…it was so loud and it was so insane. It was one of the best parties I’ve been to in a decade, dude.”
Audience member Johnny commented,
“That crowd was next level. You could feel it even on the stream.”
But the real fallout was in the division: Della Maddalena’s win opened the door for Islam’s move up, and for the whole lightweight title picture to flip.
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Topuria vs. Oliveira: A New Lightweight Title Fight Nobody Expected
With Islam stripped of the 155 lb throne, UFC 317 will now headline with Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira for the vacant belt. Most fans—and Dave—are still scratching their heads.
Dave Simon:
“For some reason that I don’t really know…Arman Tsarukyan isn’t fighting for the title even though he was supposed to fight Islam in his last fight for the title, and he beat Charles Oliveira, so what’s Charles Oliveira doing in this title fight?”
Fans sounded off in the chat:
- Angelo: “How did Oliveira leapfrog Tsarukyan?”
- Big Johnny: “Should be Topuria vs Tsarukyan if you ask me. The UFC matchmaking is wild.”
Dave pointed out that Topuria has been on a tear and brings a ton of hype, but this title shot for Oliveira seems like UFC business as usual:
“Topuria, any fight that Topuria is in is going to be interesting, and Oliveira is a legit threat at 155, but he’s not the number one contender. So why is he in a championship fight here?”
Still, it’s a fresh matchup, and the anticipation is real—even if the path there is a little wonky.
Ticket Prices, Business Moves, and the Canadian UFC Crowd
The hosts didn’t ignore the business side. Montreal’s ticket saga was a hot topic before the fights, with complaints about high prices and slow sales leading up to UFC 315.
AJ D’Alesio:
“We were showing ticket sales for the UFC 315 in Montreal and it didn’t look great…the day of I talked to one of my friends…not really happy with what the UFC ticket prices were at…the whole business looked like a disaster.”
But the UFC slashed prices on fight day and packed the place:
AJ D’Alesio:
“They dropped prices from 497 to 250…regardless, it was an insane night…I was getting texts from everybody, like from people in the crowd, ‘This is like the greatest…it just rejuvenated the fact that I want to be more involved in seeing what the UFC is all about…Dana White was able to fill up that place to a packed capacity, man. It was insane and it was so loud and it was so insane.”
Audience member Angelo joined in:
“I almost bailed because of the ticket cost but when prices dropped, I jumped on it. So worth it.”
Fans walked away happy—and so did the UFC.
The Women’s Flyweight Division: Shevchenko vs Fiorot and What’s Next
The women’s side didn’t take a back seat, with Valentina Shevchenko defending her flyweight belt against Manon Fiorot. The co-main was a big draw, but the result was all about the champ keeping her crown.
Dave Simon:
“Shevchenko just showed why she’s still the queen at 125. Fiorot is good, but Valentina’s a different level.”
Audience member Big Johnny:
“Fiorot had her moments, but Valentina put on a clinic. That jab all night.”
The hosts discussed Fiorot’s future and whether anyone left can threaten Valentina’s reign.
AJ D’Alesio:
“You gotta wonder how long she can stay at the top. These fights are getting closer, but she’s just so smart in there.”
Shavkat, Ian Garry, and UFC’s Contender Shuffle
The show wasn’t just about the top of the card—Dave and AJ also dug into the wider contender mess at both welterweight and lightweight.
Dave Simon:
“The UFC is like completely forgot about Shavkat Rakhmonov, which we can talk about who should be fighting for the belt, but instead they’re like, don’t you guys think Ian Garry should fight for the belt? I’m like, no, he just fought Shavkat and lost. Give Shavkat the title shot.”
AJ D’Alesio:
“Shavkat is getting screwed. Put in the corner. You know what I’m saying, he’s getting screwed.”
The chat backed them up:
- Angelo: “Shavkat is a beast, Dana’s sleeping on him.”
- Big Johnny: “Garry doesn’t belong in that talk yet.”
Contenders are being shuffled for business, not always for merit, at least according to the Ringside Report crew.
Pro Wrestling & Other Notes: Shoutouts to J.R.
The episode took a moment to wish well to legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross, with Dave sharing:
Dave Simon:
“We’re sending our thoughts to Jim Ross as he revealed today he’s got cancer. So I’m hoping that Jim Ross has a speedy recovery and we see him back on AEW TV soon. The greatest voice in the history of professional wrestling.”
The hosts also talked about their own merch at ringsidereport.net, keeping things fun and in the community.
Key Takeaways
- Islam Makhachev stripped of his lightweight title and moving up to fight Jack Della Maddalena at 170 lbs has turned two divisions upside down.
- Ilia Topuria is set to fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155 lb belt at UFC 317, a matchup some fans feel is out of left field.
- Jack Della Maddalena’s win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 electrified Montreal, especially after last-minute ticket price drops.
- Fans and hosts alike questioned UFC’s matchmaking, with Shavkat Rakhmonov and Arman Tsarukyan both left out of title talks.
- Valentina Shevchenko remains the queen of women’s flyweight, fending off another challenger in Manon Fiorot.
To-The-Point Conclusion
From wild championship shuffles to ticket controversies, UFC 315 and its aftermath have the MMA world buzzing. Whether you love or hate the UFC’s moves, there’s no denying things are changing fast. Islam’s jump to welterweight, new title fights, and a crowd-pleasing Montreal card make this a must-watch stretch for fight fans. One thing’s clear: fans, fighters, and the crew at Ringside Report MMA have no shortage of opinions.
