Jack Della Maddalena is the new welterweight champion and is on his way to establishing an enduring legacy at 170 pounds.

All he has to do now is get through the No. 1 Pound-for-Pound fighter in the world in Islam Makhachev and then a murderer’s row of contenders. Simple enough, right?

Della Maddalena made a statement with a dramatic win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, but his run at the top could end before it begins as he’s set to face Islam Makhachev at some point in the second half of 2025. Should he get past Makhachev, Della Maddalena has a number of hungry challengers waiting in the wings, including Ian Machado Garry, Sean Brady, Joaquin Buckley, and undefeated fighters Shavkat Rakhmonov and Michael Morales.

On this edition of the MMA Fighting Rankings Show, Alexander K. Lee, Mike Heck, and E. Casey Leydon review the most notable chart movement of the past two months and debate who will be remembered as the Georges St-Pierre of this stacked crop of welterweights. Plus, a look ahead to the most anticipated fights on the calendar.

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