In the unpredictable world of UFC matchmaking, clarity is a luxury. The title picture can change overnight, and fighters often find their fate tied to results that have nothing to do with their division. As UFC 315 approaches, there’s growing belief that the outcome of the night’s main event could trigger a ripple effect far beyond the welterweight ranks. With the lightweight belt potentially impacted by what happens in Montreal, the dominos are lined up for a major shakeup—especially as decisions are made behind the scenes about who deserves the next shot.

According to journalist Álvaro Colmenero, Islam Makhachev is planning to wait and see who emerges victorious in the Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena headliner at the Bell Centre in Montreal. While that’s intriguing in itself, it also raises eyebrows—particularly since Ilia Topuria recently stated, ‘The UFC promised me I’d fight for the belt. That’s why I vacated it. And they’ve always kept their promise.’

That may be true, but the vibe from Team Makhachev doesn’t suggest any urgency in fulfilling Topuria’s title shot just yet. Instead, it appears they’re playing the long game, carefully evaluating the landscape before making a move. And if Makhachev ultimately vacates the lightweight title to move up, Topuria could very well get his wish—his first fight at lightweight may come with a vacant championship on the line. That said, Team Makhachev has not shown much interest in facing Topuria right away without him first earning the shot through a top-contender bout.

UFC president Dana White

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With options like Topuria—one of the sport’s most talked-about rising stars—Makhachev clearly has leverage. Whether he’s eyeing a big-money fight, a favorable stylistic matchup, or both, he’s holding the cards. UFC 315 might not just crown a welterweight king—it could quietly redraw the map of the lightweight division.