Shavkat Rakhmonov stepped forward and reminded everyone that he still considers himself the division’s toughest assignment after Islam Makhachev's win at UFC 322. Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to capture the welterweight throne as the weight class scrambles to understand what comes next.Rakhmonov took to X to react to the performance and wrote:"Congratulations to Islam, excellent performance. But the real challenge at 170 is still me."Check out Shavkat Rakhmonov's X post below:Makhachev’s performance was steady and efficient from the opening minute. He dragged the fight into his world and kept Della Maddalena flat on the mat for long stretches.His timing on entries was sharp, and every takedown stalled the champion’s rhythm before it could even begin. By the end of the third round, the momentum was entirely one way, and the scorecards reflected complete control.The win secured his place in the rare group of two-division champions and tied Anderson Silva’s record for 16 consecutive UFC victories. With that win, the dynamics of the welterweight division have changed drastically.Before injury halted his rise, Rakhmonov was seen as the next man in line and the most complete threat in the division. A lingering knee issue kept him from facing Belal Muhammad last year and opened the door for Della Maddalena to take the title. That setback continues to shape the debate around his claim to a title shot.However, the field around him is strong. Muhammad remains close to contention due to his consistency and competitive history. Michael Morales added his name with a clean first-round knockout of Sean Brady on the UFC 322 card.Kamaru Usman remains in the title picture, and he has been making his case for a crack at the welterweight throne. The division now sits at an interesting turning point.Makhachev looks settled at 170 pounds and carries momentum that few fighters in UFC history have matched. Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria doubled down on his callout to fight Makhachev. He claimed that with every Makhachev fight, he grows more confident of taking out the Dagestani fighter.