Islam Makhachev names who he wants next if he beats Jack Della Maddalena

Four fighters are set to compete on the UFC 322 undercard, in what is being viewed as an unofficial welterweight tournament.

Sean Brady, coming off a strong run, will meet the unbeaten knockout artist Michael Morales at Madison Square Garden.

Meanwhile, former champion Leon Edwards faces Carlos Prates as he looks to bounce back from a loss.

Just a week later, Belal Muhammad takes on Ian Garry in Qatar, rounding out a busy stretch for the division.

Despite all the movement in the division, Makhachev made it clear he is not focused on any of those bouts. He told Adin Ross that his eyes are firmly set on Kamaru Usman.

“After Jack, I think Kamaru.

“Kamaru Usman – he has the most title defences at welterweight.

“Now he’s in a good position.”

Kamaru Usman says UFC title shot is deserved

After a series of three straight losses, it looked like Kamaru Usman’s days at the top were behind him.

Leon Edwards knocked out ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ to win the welterweight title at UFC 278 in August 2022.

He followed that up with back-to-back majority decision defeats to Edwards again and then Khamzat Chimaev.

The former champion bounced back by beating Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision. And he feels that win, along with his past record, should be enough to put him back into the title conversation.

“‘Deserve’ is not a word that I like to use a lot. I don’t like that word. No one deserves anything. I think it’s what you’ve earned, and if the company feels that I’ve earned that shot.

“I’ve showed them I am still that guy. Hopefully, (beating Buckley) is enough to show them that I’m ready to go back and sit on my rightful place, which is the top of the division, and go through these guys one by one again.”