Islam Makhachev solidified himself as one of the all-time greats inside the Octagon, dominating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to take the UFC welterweight title. The former lightweight kingpin is only the 11th man in UFC history to hold championship belts in two different weight divisions.
Inside the confines of Madison Square Garden, Makhachev went on to deliver a masterclass in pressure, grappling, and control to earn a clean unanimous decision victory 50-45 across five rounds.
Speaking after his win, Makhachev said, “I feel amazing… Jack is one of the best. We trained very hard for him, and that’s why this fight looked easy.”
With this victory, Makhachev took his record to 28-1, still undefeated since 2015. Della Maddalena tasted his first defeat since 2016 and fell to 18-3.
The newly crowned welterweight champion said he wants to compete at the UFC’s White House event next summer and hopes to face the sport’s biggest names.
Shevchenko Retains Flyweight Title with Commanding Win
Valentina Shevchenko Moves Level with Nunes for Most Women’s UFC Title Fight Wins
Valentina Shevchenko strengthened her dominance in the division by defeating Zhang Weili via another 50-45 sweep on all three judges’ scorecards to defend her UFC flyweight title.
Already the top-ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter, Shevchenko’s victory ties her with Amanda Nunes for the most UFC title fight wins among female fighters (11 wins). It also places her in elite company as only the second woman to become a two-division UFC champion, and the first to accomplish the feat across strawweight and flyweight.
“It was an amazing fight,” Shevchenko said. “I wanted to show dominance in every position so there were no doubts.”
The loss marks Weili’s first defeat since 2021 after she went up in weight for the challenge.
UFC 322: Leon Edwards Suffers Third Consecutive Defeat
Carlos Prates Scores Knockout to Rise Among Top Welterweight Contenders Former welterweight champion Leon Edwards was on the receiving end of another setback as he was knocked out by Brazil’s Carlos Prates. Despite having a great first round, Edwards got caught by a big straight left in the second and suffered his third defeat in 15 months and the first knockout loss in his career.
Prates continued to build upon his professional record, improving it to 23 wins, 18 by knockout, and positions himself firmly among top welterweight contenders. Edwards, on the other hand, has reached a critical juncture in his MMA career.
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