UFC prospect questions Islam Makhachev's championship run: 'Easy fight'

Islam makhachev in victory against Jack Della Maddalena. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.

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A great performance de Carlos Prates against Jack Della Maddalena last Saturday (2) seems to have done more than just catapult the Brazilian to second position in the welterweight ranking (up to 77,1 kg), but also changed the perception about Islam makhachev. For Joaquin buckley, which faces Sean brady No. UFC 328, the current champion of the category had an easy path to becoming champion, so as not to have yet been properly tested by the other athletes. He spoke about the subject in an interview with Paramount+ last Tuesday (5).

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Without much fear of creating controversy, the American downplayed Makhachev's actions against Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 322. This was the Russian's only appearance in the welterweight division (up to 77,1 kg), and he still doesn't have an official date to return to the world's most famous octagon.

"I don't mean to sound disrespectful by saying this, but who did he beat to become the welterweight champion? I truly believe he had one of the easiest fights he could have had," he stated.

Joaquin buckley Questions Islam makhachev's path to the welterweight title 👀🏆

"I don't wanna sound disrespectful when I say this, but who did he beat in order to become welterweight champion? I truly believe that he got one of the easiest fights that he could have."

(Street… pic.twitter.com/H1WanCBfmL

— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) May 6, 2026

Maddalena was psychologically impacted during the fight with Makhachev.

Jack Della Maddalena between rounds of the fight with Islam makhachev. Photo: Reproduction.

When they faced off at the end of last year, Makhachev and Maddalena were both on long winning streaks. The Australian, for example, hadn't lost since 2016, when he was defeated in their second professional fight. Despite this, he had no answers for the Russian's takedown and ground control game, being completely dominated and losing the title. Clearly psychologically impacted by the adverse outcome, Jack even appeared to be crying as the rounds progressed.