Islam Makhachev looked brilliant against Jack Della Maddalena inside Madison Square Garden, dominating the Aussie on the floor to win the UFC welterweight title at UFC 322.
Makhachev (28-1), the former UFC lightweight champion, smothered Della Maddalena (18-3) in the first round, forcing him to stay on the floor following an effective takedown game. It was more of the same throughout the fight. “JDM” attempted to use striking, but to no avail.
Though he looked efficient when blocking Belal Muhammad’s takedowns, Makhachev was a whole other animal for Della Maddalena. Makhachev landed four takedowns and landed 140 total strikes. The judges saw a one-sided affair and scored it accordingly for Makhachev.
Makhachev’s 16-fight win streak has now tied Anderson Silva for the most in UFC history. He is now a two-division champion and may be interested in a third title via Ilia Topuria. Even if he remains in the division, Makhachev requested a fight at the White House.
There were plenty of defining moments at UFC 322, on a card where Ethyn Ewing won the hearts of New York fight fans by competing and winning on 48 hours' notice.
Two top pound-for-pound fighters, in their prime, faced off for UFC flyweight gold. Valentina Shevchenko is the Final Boss of the division and proved why against former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili.
Zhang (26-4) attempted to use hard strikes against Shevchenko (26-4-1). The latter avoided key blows and forced the fight to the floor several times. Shevchenko attempted to tire Zhang out. She nullified Zhang’s power, making her seem like any other title defense. Shevchenko would win via unanimous decision.
Shevchenko has now won three straight and is 3-0-1 in her last four fights. She could face Natalia Silva next. Zhang’s five-fight win streak has come to an end. She may move back to strawweight and face champion Mackenzie Dern.
It was a night of violence at UFC 322, as Michael Morales would not stop attacking Sean Brady. They both looked sharp to start, landing on the head and body of the other. Then, Morales rushed after Brady, landing flurries that brought him down. He continued his assault until the referee called the fight off.
Morales remains unbeaten. At 26, the eighth-ranked fighter at welterweight, who beat number two, may be closer to a title shot.
The Fighting Nerds returned to form after Carlos Prates knocked Leon Edwards out via a long jab. Prates, known for smoking cigarettes, struggled in the first round. He rebounded with a reaching jab that put the former UFC welterweight champion to the floor.
Prates landed an extra shot for good measure. He’s now on a two-fight win streak. Suffering his first knockout loss, Edwards has now lost three straight.
The UFC main card started with a Bo Nickal knockout, a brawl in the crowd with Dillon Danis involved, and Benoit Saint-Denis taking out Beneil Dariush. A leg kick brought Saint-Denis down, but after two uppercuts, a hook took Dariush out for the count.
Saint-Denis has now won three straight.
AllSportsPeople provided results from the entire UFC 322 fight card.
UFC 322 full card results
Main Card
- Islam Makhachev def. Jack Della Maddalena (c) via unanimous decision for the UFC welterweight title (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
- Valentina Shevchenko (c) def. Zhang Weili via unanimous decision for the UFC flyweight title (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
- Michael Morales def. Sean Brady via TKO (3:27 into round one)
- Carlos Prates def. Leon Edwards via KO (1:28 into round two)
- Benoit Saint-Denis def. Beneil Dariush via KO (0:16 into round one)
Prelims
- Bo Nickal def. Rodolfo Vieira via KO (2:24 into round three)
- Gregory Rodrigues def. Roman Kopylov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Erin Blanchfield def. Tracy Cortez via rear-naked choke (4:44 into round two)
- Ethyn Ewing def. Malcolm Wellmaker via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Early Prelims
- Kyle Daukaus def. Gerald Meerschaert via D'Arce Choke (0:50 into round one)
- Pat Sabatini def. Chepe Mariscal via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Fatima Kline def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric McConico via KO (1:38 into round three)
- Matheus Camilo def. Viacheslav Borshchev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)