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Makhachev wins welterweight title
Islam Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena over five rounds at Madison Square Garden to win a unanimous decision and claim the UFC welterweight title.
“Islam Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena over five rounds at Madison Square Garden to win a unanimous decision and capture the UFC welterweight title, becoming the promotion’s eleventh two-division champion.”
The judges scored the fight 50-45 across the board.
Makhachev became the promotion’s eleventh two-division champion, improved to 28-1, and extended a 16-fight winning streak that ties UFC records.
The result ended Della Maddalena’s long unbeaten run dating back to 2016.
Makhachev celebrated adding a second belt and immediately generated talk about high-profile next steps.
Makhachev fight control
Reports agree that Makhachev repeatedly took Della Maddalena down and controlled position from half-guard and the back.
He smothered the challenger with top pressure while working steady ground-and-pound and submission attempts.
Della Maddalena managed only a few brief offensive flashes and could not generate sustained striking offense.
Outlets described a decisive double-leg and sustained wrestling that kept the Australian stuck on the mat.
Sources also note Makhachev landed calf and leg kicks to complement his grappling and threaten submissions.
Reactions to Makhachev win
Outlets framed Makhachev’s win differently, with some arguing it showed he is moving beyond mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov and entering all-time discussions.
“The victory reinforced Makhachev’s wrestling-heavy blueprint and his move beyond mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, with the Russian now staking a claim in the all-time-greats conversation.”
Analysts and fighters praised Makhachev’s wrestling-heavy blueprint while criticizing Della Maddalena’s takedown defense and his corner’s work.
There was immediate speculation about high-profile next opponents, including a public challenge from Ilia Topuria and commentators suggesting blockbuster defenses.
Some commentators even discussed nontraditional venues for a defense, such as a proposed White House lawn card.
Coverage cited outlets like Mundo Deportivo, BJPenn, and ghettoradio.co.ke for these observations and quotes.
Fight loss analysis
Jack Della Maddalena's loss is consequential: it ends an 18-fight unbeaten run.
It exposes specific holes he must address to return to title contention, primarily grappling escapes and takedown defense.
Analysts and several outlets criticized his corner and suggested he will need clear changes to secure a rematch or re-enter the divisional mix.
Other commentators emphasized that he defended several submission attempts, was not finished, and remained competitive when the fight briefly returned to standing exchanges, though he couldn't keep it there long enough to land a fight-ending strike.
UFC 322 Highlights
Valentina Shevchenko retained her flyweight title at UFC 322 with a unanimous 50-45 decision.
“Valentina Shevchenko beat Zhang Weili by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to retain the UFC flyweight title. Carlos Prates knocked out former welterweight champion Leon Edwards with a straight left in round two.”
The undercard featured major moments such as Carlos Prates knocking out Leon Edwards and Benoit Saint-Denis scoring a quick TKO of Beneil Dariush.
Those results are reshaping contender conversations across multiple divisions.
Some outlets packaged these outcomes alongside Islam Makhachev’s victory to underline the card’s depth, while others focused headlines on the new welterweight champion alone.
Arab News reported Shevchenko beat Zhang Weili by unanimous decision and noted Prates’ knockout of former welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
The Mighty 790 KFGO highlighted Shevchenko’s convincing co-main event defense.
Al Jazeera described Islam Makhachev outclassing Jack Della Maddalena across five rounds to win the welterweight title and also mentioned Shevchenko’s successful defense.