Overview
- Makhachev moved up from lightweight and dethroned Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden to capture the welterweight belt and join the short list of two-division UFC champions.
- Official stats cited across coverage show four takedowns and 19 minutes, 10 seconds of control for Makhachev, while Della Maddalena landed 30 total strikes in a five-round bout with no finish.
- Despite extended dominance and multiple submission attempts, Makhachev did not secure a stoppage as Della Maddalena survived to the final horn.
- UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping said Della Maddalena "looked miserable" yet refused the "easy way out," crediting his continued resistance and efforts to stand.
- Head coach Ben Vickers posted that he was proud of Della Maddalena and the team, writing "It hurts like hell" and calling the setback "the beginning not the end," as corner footage of tough instructions circulated widely.