Islam Makhachev delivered a masterclass at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, overwhelming Jack Della Maddalena over five grueling rounds to become the new UFC welterweight champion. The victory, earned by unanimous decision, makes the 34-year-old Dagestani star the 11th fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two different weight classes.
Moving up from lightweight after vacating his belt in search of new challenges, Makhachev appeared unfazed by the jump. He dismantled the 29-year-old Australian with ease, using powerful calf kicks to break his rhythm before imposing his trademark suffocating grappling. For nearly the entire 25 minutes, Della Maddalena found himself trapped on the canvas, battling constant submission attempts under relentless pressure.
“This was the plan — everyone knows it, but no one can stop it,” Makhachev said after the win, adding that he hopes to make his first welterweight title defense at the proposed 2026 UFC event on the White House lawn.
All three judges scored the fight 50-45, reflecting Makhachev’s complete control and extending his UFC winning streak to 16 consecutive victories, one of the longest active runs in the promotion.
Shevchenko Shuts Down Zhang to Retain Flyweight Crown
In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko once again proved why she is one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. Facing China’s Zhang Weili — who was looking to join the elite list of two-division champions — Shevchenko showcased her signature technical brilliance to win all five rounds on the scorecards.
The 37-year-old Kyrgyzstani legend mixed sharp counterstrikes with crushing body kicks and airtight grappling, neutralizing Zhang’s speed and aggression throughout the bout. Any moment of danger for Shevchenko was swiftly met with a takedown and methodical control on the mat.
“I prepared for this as the toughest fight of my life,” Shevchenko said, celebrating with her trademark victory dance. “This is the true art of martial arts — when they stand in front of me, they cannot do anything.”
