Makhachev On Dominant Della Maddalena Win

Islam Makhachev said his welterweight title victory over Jack Della Maddalena proved beneficial for his legacy as a two-division champion.

Makhachev dominated Maddalena across five rounds at UFC 322 in November 2025, shutting down the Australian's striking game with relentless grappling to capture the 170-pound belt. Speaking on the UFC 330 countdown show, per BJPenn.com, the lightweight champion said he knew the fight was his after landing his first takedown. "I wanted to be double champion. It's good for my legacy. I remember the first takedown, how easy it come, and I understand it's gonna be a long night for Jack," he said.

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Makhachev Vows More Aggression Against Garry

The Dagestani fighter defends his welterweight strap against Ian Machado Garry in the UFC 330 main event on August 15 in Philadelphia. Garry has insisted his striking advantage will prove decisive and claims he will hand Makhachev his first knockout loss since 2023. Makhachev dismissed those predictions and promised to take more risks against the Irish contender than he did in the Maddalena fight.

Garry tested his grappling against Shavkat Rakhmonov in late 2024, losing a competitive decision. Whether those rounds prepared him for Makhachev's elite pressure wrestling will be answered at the Wells Fargo Center.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Islam Makhachev reflects on dominant UFC title win over Jack Della Maddalena: “It’s good for my legacy”