NEW YORK: UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has shared an emotional message after Islam Makhachev created history by defeating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, capturing his second UFC championship title.
Competing at Madison Square Garden, Makhachev scored a dominant unanimous decision victory (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to become a two-division UFC champion, adding the welterweight crown to his lightweight title.
The win also moved Makhachev to 28-1 in professional MMA, making him the 11th fighter in UFC history to hold titles in multiple weight classes. The Dagestani star has now tied Anderson Silva’s iconic 16-fight winning streak, putting him one victory away from owning the longest winning run in UFC history.
Following the milestone, Khabib, Makhachev’s mentor, close friend and longtime cornerman , shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, praising him for continuing the legacy of Dagestan MMA.
“One and only @islam_makhachev It was an amazing performance, Brother. Today you proved that you are one of the best to ever compete in this game. You make millions proud around the world. Alhamdulillah,” Khabib wrote.
In a touching moment after the fight, Khabib rushed inside the Octagon and personally placed the championship belts on Makhachev, a gesture that went viral among fans.
Della Maddalena, who entered the contest riding a long winning streak since 2016 and holding the welterweight title he claimed against Belal Muhammad, struggled to overcome Makhachev’s elite grappling. The Russian champion secured every takedown, controlled transitions with clinical precision and neutralised the Australian’s boxing threat throughout all five rounds.
Although pre-fight discussions pointed towards a potential size and striking advantage for Della Maddalena, Makhachev quickly shut down the momentum by grounding him early and keeping relentless pressure until the final horn.
With this triumph, the conversation around Makhachev now shifts from champion status to all-time greatness, as he edges closer to becoming a UFC record-breaker.
