Islam Makhachev has officially entered rare territory. The former lightweight king produced another masterclass at UFC 322, dominating Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena over five rounds to claim the UFC welterweight championship and join the exclusive list of two-division titleholders.

Fighting under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, Makhachev showcased the suffocating wrestling and elite control that have made him one of the most feared athletes in mixed martial arts. All three judges scored the bout 50–45, reflecting the Russian star’s complete command.

“I feel amazing,” Makhachev said after the fight. “Jack is one of the best in this game. We trained hard for him, and that’s why it looked easy.”

Makhachev, coached by MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov, now holds an extraordinary professional record of 28–1, extending a decade-long undefeated streak dating back to 2015. His victory places him among the UFC’s most accomplished champions, making him just the 11th fighter in history to win titles in two different weight classes.

Della Maddalena Suffers First Loss in Nine Years

Jack Della Maddalena entered the bout on one of the hottest streaks in the welterweight division, but could not match Makhachev’s relentless pace and grappling pressure. The Australian drops to 18–3, suffering his first defeat since 2016.

Despite the setback, Della Maddalena remains one of the division’s most promising talents and is expected to remain a top contender.

Makhachev, meanwhile, already has his sights set on the UFC’s highly anticipated White House event next summer, saying he wants the “biggest names in the sport” for his next challenge.

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Valentina Shevchenko Defeats Zhang Weili to Tie UFC Record for Women’s Title Fight Wins

In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko reminded the world why she remains one of the most dominant fighters in women’s MMA. The UFC flyweight champion earned a clean sweep on the scorecards—50–45, 50–45, 50–45—against former strawweight queen Zhang Weili.

The win moves Shevchenko into UFC history books as she notches her 11th women’s title fight victory, tying the legendary Amanda Nunes for the all-time record.

Shevchenko also becomes just the second woman to hold UFC titles in two weight divisions, and the first to do it at flyweight and strawweight.

“It was an amazing fight,” Shevchenko said. “I wanted to show dominance in every area, and I think I did.”

Weili, who vacated her strawweight belt earlier this year and moved up to flyweight, suffered her first loss since November 2021—ending her impressive resurgence.

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Leon Edwards Knocked Out by Carlos Prates in Brutal Defeat

Former welterweight champion Leon Edwards suffered a devastating knockout loss to rising Brazilian contender Carlos Prates, leaving the British star at a crossroads after his third straight defeat.

Edwards began the fight well, controlling the first round, but was flattened in the second by a crisp straight left hand—marking the first knockout defeat of his MMA career.

At 34 years old and now riding a troubling skid, Edwards faces serious questions about whether he can return to championship contention.

Prates, meanwhile, improved to 23 wins, with an astonishing 18 knockouts, and now positions himself as a legitimate threat to the welterweight title.