Russian MMA superstar and online sensation Islam Makhachev made history at UFC 322, dominating Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena to capture the welterweight title in the main event.
Makhachev walked out of Madison Square Garden as a two-division UFC champion after delivering a clinical, one-sided masterclass. From the first bell, he overwhelmed Della Maddalena with crushing calf kicks, relentless pressure, and suffocating grappling that left the challenger struggling to stay in the fight.
Round after round, Makhachev imposed the same punishing pace, repeatedly slamming Della Maddalena to the canvas as the crowd roared. Even in striking exchanges, the Australian star was outgunned—Makhachev nearly connected with the same hook-to-head-kick combo he used to knock out Alexander Volkanovski in 2023.
After five dominant rounds, the judges awarded Makhachev a unanimous 50–45 victory, officially crowning him the UFC welterweight champion. With the win, he became the 11th fighter to claim titles in two UFC divisions, matched Anderson Silva’s 16-fight win streak, and joined B.J. Penn as only the second fighter to hold both lightweight and welterweight belts.
Although lightweight champion Ilia Topuria called for a clash, Makhachev stayed composed, celebrating with both belts and reaffirming that his game plan remains unbeatable. “Everyone knows what I’m going to do, and no one can stop it,” he said as he exited the octagon.
In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko delivered a similarly dominant showing, defending her flyweight title against Zhang Weili. Zhang, competing up a weight class, was repeatedly taken down and controlled, while Shevchenko signaled she intends to stay active and welcome new challengers.
Makhachev now reigns as the UFC welterweight champion. He previously won the 2016 combat sambo world championship, is a two-time Russian national champion at 74 kg, and as of July 1, 2025, ranks #1 at lightweight and #2 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound list.
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