Makhachev changed rank, not power

Islam Makhachev still shows formidable form.

Makhachev stepped into the welterweight division with a black eye and a tough training camp. But when he stepped into the cage at Madison Square Garden on the morning of November 16, he stuck to his familiar winning formula: steady pressure, tight control, and the ruthlessness of a champion who never backs down.

Maddalena was supposed to be his biggest challenge. The Australian had the speed, agility and build of a pure welterweight. The inch-plus size difference was once considered an advantage for Maddalena. But once the fight started, that advantage disappeared. Makhachev made all the difference irrelevant.

Each round followed the same pattern. Makhachev pressed from the stand. Maddalena tried to throw risky punches. Then he was lifted off the ground by a punch so hard the cage shook. As he fell, Maddalena could only stare up at the giant screen above him, with Makhachev on top of him as if the fight was going exactly as he had planned.

What is remarkable is that Maddalena’s greatest strength, his striking, has become his greatest weakness. Maddalena’s strikes have failed to create pressure. In fact, the punch that gave Makhachev a black eye in training camp was more dangerous than any attack from his opponent.

Makhachev confidently changed the rhythm, throwing a hook and high kick combination identical to the one that defeated Volkanovski in 2023. The kick only grazed his opponent, but it was enough to send a message: he is not only keeping in shape, but also evolving.

Islam Makhachev (left) holds two UFC championship belts.

The unanimous decision victory showed how big the gap was between the two fighters. Maddalena fought to survive. Makhachev, on the other hand, fought on his own terms. He controlled the pace, applied constant pressure, and finished each round with a dominant stance, not looking for a knockout or submission.

It was one of the few fights in nearly a decade in which Makhachev did not finish his opponent. But that did not diminish the victory. On the contrary, it showed that he knows how to play safely and effectively in a new weight class where mistakes can be costly.

With the welterweight title, Makhachev became the 11th fighter in UFC history to win two weight classes. He also tied Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive wins. Makhachev doesn’t talk much about those accomplishments, but what they show is clear: he’s achieved a level of control that many fighters can only dream of.

When celebrating, Makhachev said only one sentence: “All opponents know this. And no one can stop it.”

That’s not a challenge. It’s a proven fact, fight by fight. Without a challenger different enough, bold enough, and bold enough, Islam Makhachev’s reign in two weight classes will continue. At 34, he’s not a “higher mountain.” He’s a wall that MMA has yet to find a way through.

Source: https://znews.vn/makhachev-doi-hang-khong-doi-quyen-luc-post1603217.html