Islam Makhachev’s historical footprint grew quite a bit bigger inside “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
Punishing leg kicks, repeated takedowns and stifling top control carried the American Kickboxing Academy superstar to a unanimous decision over Jack Della Maddalena, as he captured the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight crown in the UFC 322 headliner on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. Makhachev (28-1, 17-1 UFC) swept the scorecards with 50-45 marks across the board and joined B.J. Penn as the only fighters to win UFC championships in the lightweight and welterweight divisions.