Islam Makhachev etched his name into the history books on Saturday night after defeating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to become a UFC double champion.
Despite prior concerns, the Russian executed a flawless transition to the welterweight division and dominated the bout at Madison Square Garden from start to finish.
Makhachev secured a unanimous decision victory on the night after putting on a wrestling clinic – which many questioned whether he’d be able to do.
The decision to move up in weight left many fans questioning whether Makhachev’s ability to dominate on the ground might be nullified – but that was far from the case.
From the opening bell, Makhachev displayed the immense grappling skills which fans have become accustomed to seeing him put into practice inside the octagon.
In contrast, Maddalena had no answer to the precision, timing and volume of Makhachev’s takedowns – and looked visibly frustrated as the rounds went on.
There were brief moments were it felt as though Della Maddalena could have turned the tide but, ultimately, he failed to capitalize on any openings that his rival left open.
For Makhachev, things couldn’t have gone better. He arrived in New York seeking to join an elite group of two-division champions and he accomplished the feat with the technical precision that has defined his career.
His strategy was visibly focused on nullifying the champion’s striking advantages, using relentless pressure and timing to close the distance inside the cage.
This victory is by far the most significant achievement of his career, validating the move up in weight and cementing his status as one the sport’s best ever fighters.
Not only did he etch his name in the history books, but he proved that his skillset – honed under the tutelage of Khabib Nurmagomedov – is truly division-proof.
By conquering the naturally larger welterweight champion, Makhachev sends a chilling message to both the 155-pound and 170-pound divisions.
Particularly, the welterweight division remains one to keep an eye on. With three bouts on the main card featuring division contenders, things have been shaken-up.
Former champion Leon Edwards was brutally knocked out by Carlos Prates, while Michael Morales dished out the same fate to Sean Brady just one fight later.
On top of this, Ian Garry and Belal Muhammad will face off next weekend, with the winner likely to earn a title shot against the newly-crowned Makhachev.
While the Russian will have to wait to see how the rest of the division landscape pans out, he’s already made it clear when he wants to return to the octagon.
During his post-fight speech, Makhachev called for a place on the highly-coveted White House card which is set to take place on the South Lawn next summer.
Makhachev becomes just the 11th two-division champion in UFC history, following in the footsteps of fighters such as Conor McGregor and Ilia Topuria.
More to follow…
