UFC 322 updates: Makhachev beats Della Maddalena to take welterweight crown

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Great performance by Islam mixing low kicks and takedowns in the open jack doesn’t know what’s coming

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) November 16, 2025

19 minutes of control time in a 25 minute fight is diabolical #UFC322

— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) November 16, 2025

Incredibly one-sided performance for Islam Makhachev. He becomes the 11th in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes and ties Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in company history at 16 consecutive fights. Official and icon of our sport. #UFC322

— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) November 16, 2025

• Islam Makhachev defeats Jack Della Maddalena via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
• Valentina Shevchenko defeats Zhang Weili via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
• Michael Morales defeats Sean Brady via first-round knockout
• Carlos Prates defeats Leon Edwards via second-round knockout
• Benoit Saint Denis defeats Beneil Dariush via first-round knockout.

Makhachev has become the 11th fighter to win UFC championships in multiple divisions and is now tied with Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive wins.

It’s hard to see anyone stopping him from eclipsing that record right now.

Ilia Topuria, another UFC double-champ, has slammed Makhachev as “boring” and called him out to fight – although it’s hard to see Makhachev going back to the brutal weight cuts needed to make lightweight.

“Islam, you need something you can’t train: Emotion. You’re the most boring thing in this game. Every day I’m more certain I put you to sleep,” Topuria wrote on X.

He also had some choice words for Della Maddelena.

“What a disappointment of a champion,” he said.

Jack needs an entire camp dedicated just to wrestling. What a disappointment of a champion. You should go to Georgia to learn something.
Islam, you need something you can’t train: emotion. You’re the most boring thing in this game. Every day I’m more certain I put you to sleep.

— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) November 16, 2025

We didn’t hear from Della Maddalena after the fight. It seems he left the Octagon straight after the judges’ scorecards were announced.

Makhachev, meanwhile, soaks up the acclaim as he leaves the arena.

Joe Rogan says this weight is a lot healthier for Makhachev.

“He has a chance now to complete a completely new legacy on top of what he’s already done – becoming the greatest lightweight of all time, most successful lightweight of all time,” he said.

“Now he has an amazing roster of [welterweight] talent in front of him. … We’re looking at one of the all-time greats, and the dominance that he displayed on the ground tonight is nothing short of astounding.”

Makhachev acknowledges that it was “easy” for him to dominate Della Maddalena.

“Five rounds, non-stop, I can wrestle – I can do whatever I want. And I made this fight so easy,” he says.

“It’s not a secret, all my opponents know this, and nobody can stop [me].”

He ends by asking for Donald Trump to “open the White House” and invite him to fight on the UFC card planned for next year in Washington, DC.

All three judges score it 50-45 to the new UFC welterweight and two-weight champ Makhachev!

He destroyed Della Maddelena’s right leg with calf kicks and mauled him repeatedly on the ground, taking him down again and again with ease.

“This is a dream!” Makhachev tells Joe Rogan. “[I’ve waited] all my life for these two belts!”

Makhachev almost sinks in a buggy choke, but Della Maddalena writhes around enough to just evade it.

The seconds tick down with Makhachev all over him. Della Maddalena gets to his feet at the death, but he can’t land a blow on the Dagestani.

The klaxon goes to end an absolute masterpiece of fighting by Makhachev, who becomes a two-division champion!

Into the final round, Della Maddalena looks like he’s trying to mask absolute agony – probably from that right leg.

Makhachev gets ahold of his waist within seconds and pulls him down to the ground; the Dagestani is hungrily searching for a finish from side control.

Della Maddelena’s face is a picture of misery as he squirms in vain underneath Makhachev’s suffocating body.

Della Maddalena is getting desperate; he bucks and tries to stand up, but only succeeds in giving up his back, and Makhachev begins to look for a body triangle.

The Australian defends it only to end up on his back as Makhachev returns to smothering him.

Makhachev goes for a kimura lock in the final few seconds – he doesn’t get it and Della Maddelena survives, but he’s being totally mauled.

Della Maddalena’s corner don’t seem to have much technical advice for their man; they are just telling him to “put some damage” and hurt Makhachev.

The Australian, meanwhile, is having a hard time even standing on his right leg; it has been beaten up so badly by Makhachev’s kicks.

Makhachev is full of feints, which are keeping Della Maddalena second-guessing, and is mostly content to let the Australian attack first so that he can counter or take him down.

There’s no surprise as Makhachev shoots again and secures another takedown.

Makhachev is grinding and suffocating Della Maddalena, who is grimacing as he struggles on his back.

The Dagestani is constantly in motion, looking for openings, irritating the champion with elbows and punches.

Della Maddalena gets to his feet right at the end, but he offered almost nothing in that round.

Della Maddalena’s corner tell him to move his feet more and “wake up”; Makhachev’s warn him against getting in a brawl.

Della Maddalena looks a little gun-shy, perhaps – rightly – fearing a takedown if he overcommits. Makhachev takes the opportunity to land another swingeing calf kick, and then another.

Della Maddalena’s left leg already looks slightly compromised; he doesn’t want to put too much weight on it.

As the two clinch in the centre of the Octagon, Della Maddalena lets loose with some ripping hooks to the body and Makhachev briefly backs off.

The respite is limited as Makhachev shoots in to secure another takedown and Della Maddalena is again flat on his back.

Della Maddalena is getting crushed on his back and Makhachev is landing elbows and shoulder strikes while he also slides Della Maddalena away from the relative safety of the fence.

Makhachev is working to isolate Della Maddalena’s left arm, but the champion faces the arm triangle attempt and gets a little respite.

Makhachev turns to raining down vicious elbows from up top, but it gives Della Maddalena an opportunity to escape and get back to his feet as the round ends.

Makhachev was imperious in that round and begins the second by landing another punishing calf kick.

The Dagestani tries to grab Della Maddalena’s leg but he just evades his grip.

Makhachev lands another kick. Della Maddalena is not checking these at all and they could soon add up.

As the fighters grapple, Della Maddalena looks to throw down Makhachev, but it’s an error as he ends up on his head and then his back with the Dagestani on top of him.

Della Maddalena ties to buck and twist in the scramble and gets onto his feet, but Makhachev clings to his back and takes him back down.

Makhachev batters Della Maddalena from on top as he looks to sink in a guillotine choke.

Della Maddalena manages to wriggle his way to safety and survives the round.

At the very end, Della Maddalena gets a telling off for landing an illegal kick from his back as Makhachev was not on his feet.