Ali Akbar Rosady
New York, NY – November 16, 2025 – Islam Makhachev cemented his legacy as one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s most dominant forces on Saturday night, securing the welterweight championship with a decisive unanimous decision victory over Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 322 at a packed Madison Square Garden. While Makhachev’s historic achievement was lauded across the mixed martial arts world, the one-sided nature of the bout and Della Maddalena’s perceived lack of offense drew sharp criticism and disappointment from many professional fighters and analysts.
The highly anticipated main event saw the reigning lightweight king, Islam Makhachev, make a significant leap up in weight class to challenge for the 170-pound strap. Entering the contest, Makhachev carried an impressive 15-fight winning streak, a testament to his unparalleled wrestling acumen and suffocating top control, a style honed under the tutelage of his legendary mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov. His journey to this title shot included a record-tying four successful defenses of his lightweight belt, a feat that had already placed him in rarefied air among UFC champions.
Jack Della Maddalena, a rising star in the welterweight division, entered the octagon with a formidable reputation as a dangerous striker with crisp boxing and knockout power. The Australian prospect had strung together a nine-fight winning streak within the UFC, culminating in this golden opportunity against arguably the pound-for-pound best fighter on the roster. Many observers had predicted a classic striker-versus-grappler showdown, with Della Maddalena’s striking prowess seen as the ultimate test for Makhachev’s wrestling dominance at a higher weight class. The narrative was set for a potential changing of the guard, or a reaffirmation of Makhachev’s seemingly unshakeable reign.
From the opening bell, however, the contest unfolded as a stark demonstration of Makhachev’s tactical brilliance and superior grappling. Round one saw Makhachev immediately close the distance, nullifying Della Maddalena’s striking threats. After a brief feeling-out period, the Dagestani champion secured his first takedown, swiftly transitioning to dominant positions. Della Maddalena, known for his ability to scramble and defend, found himself pinned against the canvas, absorbing short punches and elbows while expending significant energy to merely survive. The pattern was established early, setting the tone for the remainder of the fight.
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Throughout the five rounds, Makhachev executed his game plan with clinical precision. He landed 11 of his 15 takedown attempts, often chaining them together with seamless transitions. His control time on the ground was staggering, accumulating over 20 minutes of mat control across the 25-minute contest. From half-guard, side control, and full mount, Makhachev consistently threatened with submissions, forcing Della Maddalena into a purely defensive posture. While no submission materialized, the constant pressure and positional dominance drained Della Maddalena’s gas tank and severely limited his offensive opportunities.
Statistically, the fight painted a clear picture of Makhachev’s control. He out-landed Della Maddalena in total strikes by a margin of 187 to 48, with a significant portion of those being ground strikes. More tellingly, Della Maddalena, whose average significant strike output in his previous fights hovered around 5.5 per minute, managed only 30 significant strikes over five rounds, none of which appeared to visibly faze Makhachev. His vaunted knockout power remained untested as he struggled to create space and unleash combinations.
When the final bell rang, the outcome was inevitable. The judges scored the bout a unanimous decision in favor of Islam Makhachev (50-45, 50-45, 50-45), crowning him the new UFC Welterweight Champion. This victory not only added a second divisional title to his resume but also extended his phenomenal winning streak to 16 consecutive fights, drawing him level with UFC legend Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in promotional history. Makhachev now stands as one of only a handful of fighters to hold titles in two different weight classes simultaneously, solidifying his status as a leading candidate for the pound-for-pound king discussion.
Despite Makhachev’s monumental achievement, much of the post-fight discourse revolved around Della Maddalena’s performance, which many described as surprisingly subdued. The expectation was that Della Maddalena, with his aggressive striking and undeniable talent, would present a more formidable challenge, particularly in keeping the fight standing. However, his inability to thwart Makhachev’s takedowns or create separation left a significant portion of the MMA community underwhelmed.
Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, known for his outspoken nature, was among the first to voice his discontent on social media. "What a disappointment," Topuria posted, echoing the sentiments of many who had hoped for a more competitive main event. "He had all the tools to make it a war, but he just froze. You can’t let a wrestler take you down that easily, especially when you know what’s coming."
Other professional fighters and analysts quickly joined the chorus. Former welterweight contender Gilbert Burns, commenting on a post-fight show, remarked, "Della Maddalena looked like he had no Plan B. Makhachev did exactly what everyone expected, and Jack just couldn’t stop it. His takedown defense was almost non-existent tonight, which is a huge surprise given his previous fights."
Lightweight contender Beneil Dariush, who has faced Makhachev in the past, offered a more nuanced view but still highlighted Della Maddalena’s shortcomings. "Islam is a monster, we all know that. But I expected more urgency from Jack. You can’t just concede position like that round after round. He needed to make it ugly, get back up, and throw heat."
The criticism was not aimed at Della Maddalena’s heart or effort, but rather at his tactical execution and perceived inability to adapt to Makhachev’s relentless pressure. Many questioned why he couldn’t generate more offense when the fight briefly returned to the feet or why his escape attempts from the ground were largely unsuccessful. The fight highlighted a significant gap in his grappling defense against an elite-level wrestler, a facet of his game that will undoubtedly require significant attention.
For Islam Makhachev, the future looks incredibly bright. Holding two titles simultaneously opens up a myriad of possibilities, including potential super-fights or a decision on which division to defend. The lightweight division, which he has dominated, now awaits his decision, while the welterweight division gains a formidable new champion whose presence shifts the entire landscape. Contenders like Leon Edwards (if he were still champion) or Colby Covington would now face a new and daunting challenge.
For Jack Della Maddalena, this loss marks a significant setback in his promising career. While losing to Makhachev is hardly a career-ending defeat, the manner of the loss has raised questions about his readiness for the absolute elite of the sport. He will need to regroup, refine his grappling defense, and demonstrate an evolution in his game to climb back into title contention. The journey back will be arduous, but the experience against a generational talent like Makhachev could ultimately prove invaluable for his long-term development.
UFC 322 delivered a historic moment with Islam Makhachev’s double-champion status, but for many, it also served as a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of the sport, where expectations can quickly turn to disappointment when a fighter fails to perform at their anticipated peak.
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MMANovember 16, 2025UFC 322 Recap: Makhachev Ascends to Welterweight Throne, Shevchenko Defends Dominantly, as New Contenders Emerge at Madison Square Garden.
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