Islam Makhachev’s dominant November 2025 unanimous decision over Jack Della Maddalena to claim the welterweight title and vacate his lightweight belt has anchored trader consensus at 69.5 percent for him to remain champion through the end of 2026. The pound-for-pound standout extended an unbeaten streak with superior grappling control in that main event, positioning him for a long reign in a division that saw two title changes the prior year. Ian Machado Garry sits second at 15.8 percent on the strength of recent victories and consistent calls from peers for a title shot, while lower-probability names such as Carlos Prates and Shavkat Rakhmonov reflect the depth of contenders awaiting their opportunity in what remains one of the UFC’s most competitive weight classes.