UFC 322: Englishman Leon Edwards suffered a knockout defeat that evening. Islam Makhachev becomes two-weight champion | WWE News
Islam Makhachev became UFC two-division champion after dominating Jack Della Maddalena to win the welterweight title in New York – on the night England’s Leon Edwards suffered a third straight defeat.
Edwards was defeated by Carlos Prates, losing by knockout in the second round after being hit by a straight left from the Brazilian.
The 34-year-old’s latest setback follows his submission by Sean Brady in March and a decision loss to Belal Muhammad in July 2024 when he won the welterweight championship.
Edwards’ position in the pecking order is unclear, but Makhachev is now at the helm of the welterweight division after a comprehensive victory at Madison Square Garden.
All three judges scored the Russian’s fight against Australian Della Maddalena 50-45 in his favor as the former lightweight champion took his career record to 28-1 with his 16th straight victory.
The 34-year-old’s winning streak is tied with Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in UFC history.
Makhachev, who has not been beaten since 2015, said afterward: “This is the dream. All my life I have fought for this. I have worked hard for this moment.
“My life has changed [after stepping up to welterweight from lightweight]. I didn’t have to lose weight. I can do whatever I want. It made this evening easy. »
Russia’s Islam Makhachev reacts after winning the UFC welterweight title
“Open the White House, I’m coming,” Makhachev added, referring to the event to be held on the South Lawn of Washington, D.C., in June 2026.
Makhachev vs. Topuria in future after Russian called ‘boring’?
Della Maddalena, who had won the welterweight title by defeating Muhammad in his previous fight in May, struggled to cope with Makhachev’s calf kicks, head shots and wrestling ability as he saw his record drop to 18-3.
Makhachev could face current UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria in the future, with the latter criticizing the Russian on social media.
The Georgian wrote about X: “You are the most annoying thing in this game. Every day I’m more sure of putting you to sleep.”
Elsewhere in New York, Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her flyweight championship with a victory over former strawweight champion Zhang Weili, tying Amanda Nunes for the most wins in UFC title fights with 11.
Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended the flyweight championship at Madison Square Garden
Shevchenko, 37, was awarded each round by the judges
“It’s the art of martial arts,” she said. “When there is an opponent who is super tough in his weight class against all the other opponents, but when he is there, in front of me, he can’t do anything.
“I was prepared for the toughest challenge. I knew I couldn’t trade with Weili; she has super striking power. That’s why I worked very hard and smart to use distance and wrestling.”
