Conspiracy or strategy? Islam Makhachev and a calculating manager may be shaping a path toward an ostensibly simpler challenge for Usman
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Former UFC Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad isn’t keen on seeing Kamaru Usman land the next title shot.
When Islam Makhachev stepped up to 170 pounds and dominated Jack Della Maddalena to seize the Welterweight title, the night also spotlighted rising contenders. Carlos Prates and Michael Morales delivered spectacular knockouts, joining the ranks of potential threats alongside Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry. It marked a watershed moment for the next generation of Welterweight talents, yet the exact challenger for Makhachev remains uncertain.
Makhachev himself has voiced a preference for Usman, the former champion who defeated Joaquin Buckley earlier this year at UFC Atlanta. Before that win, Usman had endured a three-fight skid and spent a period away from competition.
Muhammad may be allied with Makhachev, but that doesn’t mean he believes Usman should be next in line. He asserts that a scheme could be in motion to secure Makhachev an “easier” title bout, while Ali Abdelaziz, the manager, could stand to benefit from advancing both clients toward a UFC title confrontation and potentially increasing his own earnings.
“When I survey the Welterweight division with Islam as the champion, who truly deserves the shot?” Muhammad asked. “Michael Morales has earned it, no doubt. Yet we can see the signals being laid. It’s as if Islam is planting the idea that Usman should be the next challenger. It’s clear they share the same manager, and perhaps the manager is stoking those thoughts.”
“Do I think Usman is an easier matchup for him? Certainly. Usman competed only once in the past three years and is 1-3 in that span. I’m still ahead of him. Even though I’ve dropped two in a row, I’m 2-2 overall. People can say whatever they want—he declined a recent fight, and I don’t think avoiding a bout should earn you a title shot.”
Muhammad also urged a clash with “The Nigerian Nightmare.” The two have a long-running feud dating back to a podcast appearance that allegedly ended in a physical altercation, though nothing has been officially booked yet.
With 2026 on the horizon, fans and insiders alike are hoping for clearer Welterweight matchups sooner rather than later, as a cloud of uncertainty still hangs over who will face Makhachev next.
