How new welterweight champion Islam Makhachev 'can enter GOAT debate' after Jack Della Maddalena demolition at UFC 322

Islam Makhachev solidified his place among the UFC elite, dominating Jack Della Maddalena to capture the welterweight title at UFC 322, etching his name into the sport's exclusive circle of two-weight world champions. Speaking on Fight Week, TNT Sports pundit Nick Peet feels Makhachev could dominate the welterweight division and go on to be considered one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.

New welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has what it takes to become the greatest UFC fighter of all time, according to TNT Sports pundit Nick Peet.

Makhachev cemented his legacy as one of the UFC's greats after dispatching Jack Della Maddalena to claim the welterweight crown and join the sport’s exclusive club of two-weight world champions at UFC 322.

The former lightweight title holder became only the 11th fighter in UFC history to secure championships in two divisions, delivering a commanding performance under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

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Across five one-sided rounds at UFC 322 in New York, Makhachev's superior grappling dictated the pace and complexion of the bout. The judges were unanimous in their verdict, all three scoring it 50-45 in favour of the Russian, whose dominance left little room for doubt.

Speaking on Fight Week, TNT Sports presenter Adam Catterall was joined, as usual, by UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping and Peet, and he proposed to the panel that they could be embarking on something very special for the sport.

"The mouth can now start watering about the possibility of what the next 12 to 24 months looks like in the welterweight division, because the whole landscape shifted [at UFC 322]," opened Catterall.

"I know we've got another one coming up this week out in Qatar with Ian Garry taking on Belal Muhammad, but the runners and riders are all lining up and Islam Makhachev could go on a legendary run here."

Della Maddalena, who had captured the welterweight crown by defeating Belal Muhammad in May, struggled to withstand Makhachev's relentless assault. The Russian’s punishing calf kicks, precise head strikes, and superior grappling proved decisive, leaving Della Maddalena’s record at 18-3.

Looking ahead, Makhachev could set his sights on a high-stakes clash with current UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. Tensions appear to be brewing, with Topuria taking to social media to challenge the Russian following his latest triumph.

But TNT Sports pundit Peet reserved special praise for Makhachev after going where not many have gone before him.

"He's joined that elusive two-weight champion club," Peet said. "He's the 11th member. Nobody has dominated in two weight divisions. People have gone in, won a belt, kept it for a bit, but nobody's dominated. Islam could dominate at welterweight, and then he enters the GOAT debate.

"He was utterly dominant down at lightweight and then he came up and this was supposed to be the test.

"It was supposed to be the fact that he's coming up 15lbs and he's going to be facing bigger, stronger men, and would his skill set transfer up to the bigger weight division?

Highlights: Makhachev dominates Della Maddalena to become double champion

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Going into the fight, a lot of people thought that Jack was going to cause him real problems - certainly going to ask him a couple of questions, but he just made it look so easy.

"Islam was absolutely dialled in. You could see in his eyes that he was, and he took this so seriously, realising that this was a big moment in his own career and legacy. What we got was arguably the pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet, bringing his Triple-A game.

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"For that reason, it got to a point in round three where I was starting to feel sorry for Jack. Imagine working your whole life to become a UFC champion and looking around and going, 'right... who's next?'

"And then they bring up the pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet from the weight division below for your first defence. Is that okay? It kind of felt like that in a moment.

"Islam was absolutely on point, and to be honest, by the time he got to round five, he could have brought in the next contender to the division, and he would probably have done the same thing to him."

Bisping: I felt sorry for Della Maddalena

Bisping reflected on the night a new welterweight champion was crowned, stating: "Islam Makhachev beat him soundly, and he beat him in style. It was one-way traffic and utter domination.

"Whatever you want to call it, it was a shutout. He became the welterweight champion in one of the most one-sided performances you're likely to see. We all questioned whether Della Maddalena could stop a takedown, and the answer was no.

'Open the White House, I'm coming', says Makhachev after victory over Della Maddalena

Video credit: TNT Sports

"In fact, he didn't do very much. The longer the fight progressed, the easier the takedowns became and the less output Jack had on his side. I really felt for him at one stage.

"He did a really good job of not quitting, of not giving up, because lesser men would have done so. Islam was just taking him down; he was rag-dolling him. He was trying to finish the fight.

"I'll give him his credit there. He was trying every move, including a straight armlock, but Jack was defending very well, and he didn't stop. As the fight was going on, he was grimacing. He looked miserable as hell. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else.

"But in that Octagon with Islam Makhachev, he just dominated and made it a miserable night for Della Maddalena."

'Welterweight division is the new lightweight division'

Guided by the mentorship of UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev extended his remarkable unbeaten run - stretching back to 2015 - while elevating his professional record to an imposing 28-1.

For Della Maddalena, the defeat marked the end of a near-decade-long surge. The Australian, who had not tasted defeat since 2016, now stands at 18 wins and three losses from 21 professional outings.

With his welterweight triumph secured, Makhachev has already set his sights on the next milestone, expressing a desire to compete at the UFC’s planned White House event next summer.

Highlights: Edwards knocked out by Prates

Video credit: TNT Sports

An exciting possible contender to Makhachev is Michael Morales, who extended his record to 19-0 with a first-round TKO victory over the previous No. 2-rated welterweight Sean Brady.

Then there is also Carlos Prates, who will now consider himself among the top contenders for the UFC title after he knocked out Leon Edwards to leave the Brit's MMA career hanging in the balance after three straight defeats.

Bisping added: "The welterweight division is the new lightweight division. It is where all the best contenders are, top to bottom. The division is absolutely stacked.

"Yes, Ian Garry next week, he's got to get through Belal Muhammad, and even if he does get through him, he's got to do it in style, because the other two welterweight fights we saw over the weekend were ridiculously sensational knockouts [from Morales and Prates].

"They both stated their case. Right now, Islam - given his style and what he did to Jack Della Maddalena and given what he does to everybody, if we're honest, I don't see why he wouldn't be able to do that at welterweight and go on some crazy run and defend about three, four, five times and potentially retire.

"Obviously, it's early days to be having those kinds of conversations, but certainly the potential is there."

Watch Tom Aspinall: Road to Undisputed on TNT Sports and discovery+

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