Joe Rogan has revealed his preference for UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev’s first defense.
The Dagestani became the eleventh two-division champ in UFC history last November, when he closed out the promotion’s latest Madison Square Garden event with a dominant showing.
Makhachev dethroned Jack Della Maddalena to follow up his lightweight reign with one other crowning. In doing so, he made the Australian’s title reign at 170 kilos an especially short one.
Moving forward, Makhachev isn’t without options for his return in 2026, but Rogan thinks one alternative stands above the remaining.
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Joe Rogan desires to see legend Kamaru Usman granted his want to challenge Islam Makhachev
Makhachev named Kamaru Usman as his preferred challenger in his first welterweight defense soon after his UFC 322 triumph.
There has not been much movement toward that matchup, nonetheless, and the most recent reports have Ian Machado Garry because the frontrunner.
During an episode of his JRE Fight Companion during Saturday’s UFC London event, Rogan acknowledged that the Irish contender has earned a possibility.
Nevertheless, the longtime color commentator thinks it’s only right that Usman be given the fight after all the things he has achieved.
“I feel Ian Garry deserves it, but I also think Kamaru — like, come on, the guy’s a legend,” Rogan said.
“That is like, the last yr he could fight, and he looked sensational against Joaquin Buckley.
“I would like to see that fight (Makhachev vs Usman),” Rogan added.
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Usman’s victory over Buckley in Atlanta last June marked his first success since his title defense against Colby Covington at UFC 268 in November 2021.
Garry, meanwhile, has defeated Carlos Prates and Belal Muhammad since losing a closely contested fight to the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov in late 2024.