Bhubaneswar: At the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York on 15 November 2025, Russia’s own Islam Makhachev showcased a masterclass in dominance, dismantling Australian striking phenom Jack Della Maddalena to claim the UFC Welterweight Championship (170 lb) and reclaim the No. 1 spot in the men’s pound-for-pound (P4P) rankings.
A Blockbuster Move Up in Weight
Makhachev, formerly champ at lightweight (155 lb), parked that belt earlier this year to pursue a new challenge at welterweight. Facing a fighter widely hailed for his boxing, Makhachev leaned on his grappling pedigree—taking Della Maddalena down repeatedly, controlling top position for large stretches and neutralising his opponent’s offence.
The decision? Unanimous in his favour, and with it, two major achievements:
Becoming a two-division UFC champion.
Matching the legendary Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive UFC wins.
The Pound-for-Pound Crown Returns
His new title was only half the story. His win triggered a shake-up in the P4P rankings of the UFC: Makhachev leap-frogged Ilia Topuria to reclaim the No. 1 spot.
One analyst noted:
“A dominant victory … his new gas tank allowed him to become a relentless force on the ground.”
Interesting Facts & Milestones
Makhachev’s current win-streak stands at 16 — now tied for the longest in UFC history.
He controlled top-position for 18 of the 25 minutes in the title fight — an almost surgical ground game.
This makes him only the eleventh fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two weight classes.
In vacating his lightweight belt and moving up, Makhachev admitted the weight cuts to 155 lb had left him “at only 70-80% of his potential”. His move to 170 lb appears to have unlocked a fresh gear.
While no full in-ring quotes were available in the source, commentators and analysts had plenty to say:
“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” — Brian Campbell on Makhachev’s return to the top of P4P.
“Makhachev moved back up to the #1 spot … following a dominant showing at UFC 322.”
With his welterweight belt in hand and the P4P crown restored, the question now is who’s next. Will Makhachev defend his new title at welterweight, or will talk of superfights pick up steam? Recent commentary suggests both his champion peers and the UFC brass will have their eyes on what he does next.
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