Islam Makhachev, Valentina Shevchenko cruise to title wins at UFC 322

NEW YORK: Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev added a new belt to his trophy case, becoming the new UFC welterweight champion against Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision, 50-45, 50-45, 50-45, on Saturday night at UFC 322 in the main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.
A dominant wrestling base made the difference for Makhachev (28-1 MMA), who became the 11th fighter in UFC history to win multiple titles across divisions. The Russian also tied Anderson Silva’s record for the UFC’s longest winning streak with 16 consecutive outings.

Australia’s Della Maddalena (18-3 MMA) had not lost since May 2016, rallying off 18 in a row entering the title defense against the Russian superstar, who vacated the 155-pound belt earlier this year.
Makhachev recognizes his chance to elevate his status as MMA’s most elite champion. Should he stay healthy, he wants a fight at the UFC’s White House event next summer.
“I’m coming,” Makhachev said.
The co-main event saw Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan make her second defense of her UFC flyweight title across two different titleholder stints (the other being from December 2018-March 2023), doing so with effortless wrestling and explosive boxing across 25 minutes of action to overwhelm former three-time UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili of China 50-45, 50-45, 50-45.
Shevchenko (26-4-1 MMA) was classy in victory, keeping it simple regarding why she continues to improve despite being 37.