Everyone wants to know about islam makhachev right now, and for good reason. The Dagestani wrestling machine is stepping into Madison Square Garden this Saturday night to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title, and this fight is absolutely stacked with history-making potential.
What Happened: UFC 322's Historic Main Event
islam makhachev is fighting for the welterweight championship at UFC 322 after vacating his lightweight title back in May. The former lightweight king spent the entire year rebuilding his body with weight training to compete at 170 pounds. Across the cage stands Jack Della Maddalena, an undefeated UFC sensation from Perth, Australia, who brings an incredible story of his own. The weigh-ins are complete, both fighters hit the 170-pound mark, and the energy in New York City is absolutely electric.
Why This Fight Significant: Legends vs Underdogs
At thirty-four years old, makhachev is ESPN's number two pound-for-pound fighter, trained by the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov and American Kickboxing Academy founder Javier Mendez. He represents decades of Dagestani wrestling perfection and championship pedigree. But Della Maddalena's team tells a completely different story. His head coach has a professional fighting record of zero wins and two losses, yet has cornered his fighter to UFC gold against teams with over thirty years of championship experience. It's the ultimate clash of MMA royalty versus pure Australian scrappiness.
Three Knockout Details You Must Know
1. Record-Breaking Stakes
islam makhachev is currently riding a fourteen-fight win streak. If he defeats Della Maddalena, he ties Anderson Silva's all-time UFC record for most consecutive wins at sixteen straight, permanently cementing his legacy among the sport's immortals.
islam makhachev is currently riding a fourteen-fight win streak. If he defeats Della Maddalena, he ties Anderson Silva's all-time UFC record for most consecutive wins at sixteen straight, permanently cementing his legacy among the sport's immortals.
2. The Body Transformation
Makhachev completely rebuilt his physique for welterweight, lifting heavy and packing on lean mass. He recently joked that he can finally wrestle with Khabib now because they're both massive, a scary thought for anyone at 170 pounds.
Makhachev completely rebuilt his physique for welterweight, lifting heavy and packing on lean mass. He recently joked that he can finally wrestle with Khabib now because they're both massive, a scary thought for anyone at 170 pounds.
3. David vs Goliath Coaching Story
While makhachev corners with UFC Hall of Famers and undefeated champions, Della Maddalena's Perth-based team includes his brother and training partners with less than twenty combined pro fights. They've created championship gold from scratch in just thirteen years, and they couldn't care less about fame.
While makhachev corners with UFC Hall of Famers and undefeated champions, Della Maddalena's Perth-based team includes his brother and training partners with less than twenty combined pro fights. They've created championship gold from scratch in just thirteen years, and they couldn't care less about fame.
What's Next: Saturday Night's Legacy Fight
This isn't just another title fight. It's a battle between two completely different approaches to reaching MMA's peak—decades of Dagestani wrestling tradition versus a homegrown Australian team that literally built itself from nothing.
Who leaves MSG with double champ status? Will makhachev's wrestling suffocate the striker, or does Della Maddalena pull off the impossible? Drop your fight predictions in the comments below and tell me which legacy gets made Saturday night.