Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) dethroned Muhammad (24-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) to become welterweight champion in the UFC 315 headliner earlier this month in Montreal. With Makhachev vacating his UFC lightweight title for a move up to 170 pounds, he is expected to challenge Della Maddalena later in the year.

The debate over whether champions should defend or seek legacy-defining glory is hardly new.