Islam Makhachev etched his name in the history books by earning a unanimous decision victory over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. With the win, Makhachev claimed the UFC welterweight championship and added another title to his legendary resume.
Makhachev shut down Della Maddalena’s striking from the start. The Australian landed a few clean shots, but the Dagestani quickly regained control. He brought the fight to the ground and dominated.
Makhachev also utilized calf kicks throughout the fight. Della Maddalena’s right calf was visibly damaged, leaving him compromised. The calf kicks limited ‘JDM’s movement and contributed to the Dagestani’s overall control.
‘JDM’ struggled to find an answer to Makhachev’s grappling. Despite several attempts to escape submissions, he struggled to create an momentum.
All three judges scored the bout 50-45 in favor of Makhachev, marking an impressive performance. After the fight, Makhachev reflected on his victory and what it means to him.
“This is the dream all my life,” Makhachev told Joe Rogan during his post-fight interview. “I’m so happy and I like it. I worked hard for this moment.”
Ilia Topuria Reacts to Islam Makhachev’s Welterweight Title Win at UFC 322
Ilia Topuria blasted Makhachev’s performance and wasn’t impressed. Topuria, who won the lightweight championship that Makhachev vacated, criticized the Dagestani for not being an entertaining fighter.
The lightweight champion has been calling for a fight with Makhachev for quite some time. He took to social media to express his disappointment in Della Maddalena’s performance, claiming he lacked proper preparation. Topuria then turned his attention to Makhachev and claimed he would finish him if they fought.
“Jack needs an entire camp dedicated just to wrestling. What a disappointment of a champion. You should go to Georgia to learn something,” Topuria wrote on X. “Islam, you need something you can’t train: emotion. You’re the most boring thing in the game. Every day I’m more certain I put you to sleep.”
For now, a matchup between the two seems unlikely. Makhachev has said he plans to stay at welterweight.
Who Will Challenge Makhachev First?
With Makhachev now holding the welterweight title, several contenders are waiting for their opportunity. Topuria may be the most appealing option at lightweight. However, there are many intriguing matchups at welterweight.
Michael Morales and Carlos Prates both delivered stunning knockouts earlier in the night. Morales defeated No. 2 ranked Sean Brady by 1st round TKO, while Prates knocked out former champion Leon Edwards in 2nd round.
Another potential challenger is former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. He made his return to the octagon in June with a unanimous decision win over Joaquin Buckley. Undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov is also in the mix, but his status will depend on his health.
Another key fight takes place next Saturday. Ian Machado Garry will face former champion Belal Muhammad in the UFC Qatar main event.
Machado Garry holds a recent win over Prates, which could help strengthen his case. A strong performance against Muhammad could solidify him as the clear No. 1 contender for Makhachev’s title.
Dana White and the UFC matchmakers now face a tough decision on who gets the first shot at Makhachev’s title.
Islam Makhachev Dominates Jack Della Maddalena to Capture Welterweight Title