Islam Makhachev becomes UFC two-division champion after dominant win
“Islam Makhachev thrashed Jack Della Maddalena to win the UFC welterweight title by unanimous decision.”
Key points
- Islam Makhachev thrashed Jack Della Maddalena to win the UFC welterweight title by unanimous decision.
- The victory makes him a two-division champion; Valentina Shevchenko also defended her flyweight title.
Islam Makhachev overpowered Jack Della Maddalena over five one-sided rounds at Madison Square Garden to capture the UFC welterweight title by unanimous decision, becoming the 11th fighter in the promotion’s history to hold championships in two weight classes.
The 34-year-old Russian mixed precise calf kicks with smothering wrestling to control the action and extend his winning streak to 16. All three judges scored it 50-45. In his post-fight remarks, Makhachev called for his first title defence to take place at the proposed event on the White House lawn in 2026.
On the same card, Valentina Shevchenko retained her flyweight crown with a dominant points win over Zhang Weili, showcasing superior striking and control to keep her belt.
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