Islam Makhachev’s biggest win yet may also have been one of his easiest. Already a record-setting UFC lightweight champion, Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena from pillar to post Saturday at UFC 322 to capture the welterweight title inside New York’s Madison Square Garden and become just the 11th fighter in promotional history to win belts in two divisions.
All three judges scored the bout 50-45 in Makhachev’s favor — and fight wasn’t even really that close.
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Makhachev’s lopsided victory also moves him into a tie with UFC legend Anderson Silva for the longest win streak in UFC history; Makhachev has won 16 consecutive bouts dating back to October 2015.
“This is the dream,” he said post-fight after another stifling, wrestling-heavy performance. “All my life for these two belts. I’m really happy, and the belts so heavy — and I like it. I worked hard for this moment.”
“This [wrestling] is my plan — it’s not secret. All my opponents know this and nobody can stop it.”
Makhachev’s record-tying 16-fight run counts wins over pound-for-pound great Alexander Volkanovski (x2), former champion Charles Oliveira, former interim champ Dustin Poirier, and top contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker, among many others. He set a new UFC record for most consecutive lightweight title defenses ever (4) in January with his UFC 311 submission of Renato Moicano.
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Despite moving up in weight 15 pounds for UFC 322, Makhachev (28-1) looked right at home in the 170-pound division. His immense physicality and ferocious strength was on full display from the opening horn, as he needed mere minutes to snatch a single-leg takedown and ride out the opening round from top position while feeding Della Maddalena (18-3) a steady diet of hard punches and elbows.
The fight quickly became an exercise in grueling repetition, with Makhachev wrestling Della Maddalena to the floor in every round and spending long swathes of the time either hunting for submissions or pummeling the Australian from top control. Makhachev also battered Della Maddalena’s lead leg with calf kicks whenever the two were standing. Della Maddalena appeared to be completely dejected in his corner by the end of Round 3, however there was no respite to be found from pressure-happy opponent.
The final striking stats told the story of domination: Makhachev landed 140-of-188 strikes, good for a sterling 74% clip, while Della Maddalena connected on a meager 30 shots across 25 minutes.
Though he entered the UFC being hailed as the heir apparent of his childhood friend and longtime teammate, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has now surpassed his mentor in seemingly every statistical category aside from Nurmagomedov’s unblemished record. At age 34, with a second title already in his grasp, Makhachev appears poised to beome one of the most accomplished fighters in MMA history by the time he hangs up his gloves — if he’s not there already.
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In the night’s co-main event, UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (26-4-1) set the table for Makhachev by using her physicality and overwhelming wrestling to dominate former two-time UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili (26-4) in a similar battle of pound-for-pound stars.
Zhang, just as Makhachev did, vacated her long-held title in order to jump up a weight class and pursue two-division glory. Her attempt, however, was thwarted by a trio of 50-45 scores in Shevchenko’s favor.
Check out complete UFC 322: Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena results and highlights below, as well as Uncrowned’s round-by-round play-by-play of the final eight bouts of the night.
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Main Card
Welterweight championship: Jack Della Maddalena def. Islam Makhachev via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Welterweight: Michael Morales def. Sean Brady via TKO (punches) at 3:27 of R1 | Watch finish
Welterweight: Carlos Prates def. Leon Edwards via KO (punch) at 1:28 of R2 | Watch finish
Lightweight: Benoit Saint Denis def. Beneil Dariush via KO (punch) at :16 of R1 | Watch finish
Preliminary Card
Middleweight: Bo Nickal def. Rodolfo Vieira via KO (head kick) at 2:24 of R3 | Watch finish
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Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues def. Roman Kopylov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Women’s flyweight: Erin Blanchfield def. Tracy Cortez via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:44 of R2 | Watch finish
Featherweight: Ethyn Ewing def. Malcolm Wellmaker via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Middleweight: Kyle Daukaus def. Gerald Meerschaert via submission (D’arce choke) at :50 of R1 | Watch finish
Featherweight: Pat Sabatini def. Chepe Mariscal via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Strawweight: Fatima Kline def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
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Middleweight: Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric McConico via KO (punch) at 1:38 of R3 | Watch finish
Lightweight: Matheus Camilo def. Viacheslav Borshchev via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Live coverage is over112 updates
- Sat, November 15, 2025 at 10:04 PM PST
Uncrowned Staff
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Uncrowned Staff
Sat, November 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM PST
Drake Riggs
JDM starts to wing his punches and look for the kill, which is what he has to do. However, that opened up the easy takedown once again, returning Makhachev to control in the half guard. He goes right for the americana, but JDM wiggles away. It’s a control nightmare for the Aussie. Just watching his attempts to survive look painful. They move to full guard with limited damage. JDM squirms, adjusting back to half guard. He gives up the d’arce choke, scrambling to go north-south and escape. That was unexpectedly impressive. All to get back in half guard. There it is. And new. Absolute dominance from the best fighter in the world.
10-8 Makhachev. (50-43 Makhachev.)
Drake Riggs
JDM searches for kicks out the gate. Makhachev snaps one back to the body. He goes low afterward, then back to the body. Makhachev starts to play with his punches, inevitably chopping the leg before an easy takedown returns the action to half guard. JDM scrambles in a last-ditch effort, giving up his back. Makhachev traps the arm with his leg. JDM pulls it out, returning to half guard, but he has no answers. This fight is essentially over. Makhachev methodically works his way toward a potential kimura against the cage. Wall-walking, JDM survives any trouble before time expires.
10-8 Makhachev. (40-35 Makhachev.)
- Sat, November 15, 2025 at 9:45 PM PST
Uncrowned Staff
Drake Riggs
They trade extended rights to start the round. Makhachev targets the calf again with another kick. JDM gets visibly hurt by another leg kick. JDM starts to get eaten up by a big multi-punch combo. Makhachev locks on a tight clinch, landing knees while JDM throws up punches. Makhachev times a perfect double-leg to plant JDM down, working into half guard. Mild active offense gets fired off by Makhachev, but this feels pretty similar to the Shevchenko performance we saw in the last fight. JDM tries to tighten up, opening himself to some elbows. He tries to roll, but can’t escape. JDM explodes late. Nothing comes of it, other than Makhachev maintaining incredible control.
10-9 Makhachev. (30-27 Makhachev.)
Drake Riggs
Makhachev slaps the outside leg of JDM with a kick. He punches over the guard of JDM before failing on a brief single-leg attempt. Another leg kick gets through. A head kick connects for Makhachev before they tie up. Makhachev presses the champ to the cage with an underhook. JDM attempts to whizzer escape, and gets countered to fall underneath and upside down Makhachev. JDM’s backside is to the wall, seeking wrist control or any defense he can find. There isn’t much space to give Makhachev big offense. An opening for a big elbow arrives for Makhachev. Short elbows land for Makhachev, as JDM starts to move away from the cage and give up a more secure half guard. Makhachev teases some submission positions, but doesn’t really go for anything until a window for elbows open. JDM bursts to his feet late. Time expires.
10-9 Makhachev. (20-18 Makhachev.)
- Sat, November 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM PST
Uncrowned Staff
Drake Riggs
Makhachev chops early before JDM presses forward with punches. They trade leg kicks. JDM jabs nicely. He works the jab to the body. Makhachev dives in for the single-leg takedown and gets it. He lands right in half guard. They trade short punches. JDM does his bets to creep out, initiating a scramble that leads to Makhachev getting on the back. Makhachev is fully in control, transitioning back to half guard. A possible d’arce gets threatened by Makhachev, but JDM notices it. JDM tries to power his way out, winding back up in guard. JDM manages to escape the position to at least move a bit before time expires.
10-9 Makhachev.
- Sat, November 15, 2025 at 9:26 PM PST
Uncrowned Staff
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 14: (L-R) Opponents Jack Della Maddalena of Australia and Islam Makhachev of Russia face off during the UFC 322 ceremonial weigh-in at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 14, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
(Ishika Samant via Getty Images)
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Makhachev’s injection into the welterweight division is still one I can’t quite wrap my head around. He’s been about as perfect of a lightweight as there’s ever been, and the pursuit of two-division champion status is something mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov left on the table.
Does all that dominance change 15 pounds up in weight? The new challenge of Della Maddalena — the ultimate underdog — became ultra-perplexing the moment “JDM” took the belt from Belal Muhammad.
Let’s start with the defending champ. Della Maddalena has some of the cleanest, prettiest-to-watch boxing in MMA right now. The work he did against Muhammad — defensively as well — was a delight. In a pure striking match, “JDM” is a proven handful for anyone. Although the finish never came against Muhammad, that’s typically the method the Aussie uses to get the job done. And as great as Makhachev has been in all departments, he’ll find himself touched by Della Maddalena on Saturday.
The X-factor with nearly every Dagestani superstar is their sambo and near-unstoppable grappling game. That’ll be the most intriguing area of the headliner because Makhachev will have his typical success despite going up in weight. Della Maddalena remains a low-key phenomenal scrambler, escaping positions against the likes of Muhammad and talented BJJ player Gilbert Burns. Della Maddalena has to replicate his past defensive maneuvers and attacks on exits, like he’s done so well.
The problem here is Makhachev’s overall technical soundness. He’s a different beast when it comes to talent. Cutting less weight could very well be an advantage, as he’s put on visible mass in preparation for this weekend. Could that be detrimental to his longevity in the fight? Sure. But that’s if it gets there, and I have a feeling a submission could arise before that matters. If not, Makhachev will have his three-round lead, leaving “JDM” in that underdog role he’s become accustomed to, seeking the late comeback.
Either way, it’s going to be theater. Makhachev has just been too good and shown far fewer holes than his championship counterpart.
Pick: Makhachev
- Sat, November 15, 2025 at 9:01 PM PST
Uncrowned Staff
Drake Riggs
Zhang attacks in, looking to make anything happen before they tie up against the cage. They jockey for control briefly and separate. Another Shevchenko body kick lands. Zhang lands a good oblique kick, but gets tied up in the clinch after. Shevchenko locks the body, bullying Zhang back down. They work in full guard. Shevchenko moves to half guard without much damage being dealt. Shevchenko starts to punch away after referee Marc Goddard warns them to work. Zhang starts to squirm and kick Shevchenko off. The champ chops at the legs, ending the fight. A masterful performance.
10-9 Shevchenko. (50-45 Shevchenko.)
- Sat, November 15, 2025 at 8:58 PM PST
Uncrowned Staff
- Sat, November 15, 2025 at 8:55 PM PST
Uncrowned Staff
Drake Riggs
Zhang lands a good body kick to start, eating another jab simultaneously. A heavy Shevchenko body kick lands to hurt Zhang, who backs up. Another heavy shot from Shevchenko lands before she goes up high to connect the head kick. She’s picking apart the former two-time strawweight champ. Zhang pushes into the clinch to eat some knees. Shevchenko fires off a hard push kick to the body. They’re all bothering Zhang now. Zhang fires a body kick back, then gets stung with a right hand. Shevchenko snaps the leg kick outside. A good one-two lands for Shevchenko. A Zhang body kick gets caught, giving up another takedown right into half guard. Shevchenko lands short punches before the round ends. She’s fully cruising.
10-9 Shevchenko. (40-36 Shevchenko.)