Makhachev's rank changed, but his power remained.

Islam Makhachev continues to show formidable form.

Makhachev stepped into the welterweight division with a bruised eye and a grueling training camp. However, when he stepped into the cage at Madison Square Garden on November 16th, he maintained his familiar winning formula: consistent pressure, tight control, and the coolness of a champion who never backs down.

Maddalena was considered his biggest challenge. The Australian fighter had the speed, agility, and physique of a pure welterweight. The physical difference, even just an inch, was once seen as an advantage for Maddalena. However, once the fight began, that advantage immediately vanished. Makhachev rendered all differences meaningless.

Each round unfolded in the same pattern. Makhachev applied pressure from the moment he stood. Maddalena attempted risky moves. And then he was lifted up by a powerful takedown that made the cage vibrate. As he fell, Maddalena could only stare up at the giant screen above, while Makhachev lay on top of him as if the fight were going exactly as planned.

Interestingly, Maddalena's greatest strength, his striking, became his weakest point. Maddalena's punches lacked pressure. Even the punch that left Makhachev with a black eye in training camp was more dangerous than any attack from his opponent.

Makhachev confidently shifted his pace, unleashing a combination of hooks and high kicks identical to the one that defeated Volkanovski in 2023. The kick only grazed his opponent, but it was enough to send a message: he not only maintained his form, but also evolved.

Islam Makhachev (left) holds two UFC championship belts.

The unanimous decision victory showed just how vast the gap was between the two fighters. Maddalena fought for survival, while Makhachev fought as he pleased. He controlled the pace, applied relentless pressure, and finished each round smoothly, without seeking a knockout or submission.

This was one of the few fights in almost a decade where Makhachev didn't finish his opponent. But that doesn't diminish the victory. On the contrary, it shows he knows how to fight safely and effectively in a new weight class, where every mistake can be costly.

With the welterweight title, Makhachev became the 11th fighter in UFC history to win championships in two weight classes. He also equaled Anderson Silva's record of 16 consecutive wins. Makhachev doesn't talk much about these achievements, but they clearly demonstrate what everyone can see: he has reached a level of control in fights that many fighters can only dream of.

In his celebration, Makhachev simply said: "All our opponents know this. And no one can stop us."

This isn't a challenge. This is a fact proven through each fight. Unless there's a challenger different enough, bold enough, and courageous enough, Islam Makhachev's reign in both weight classes will continue. At 34, he's not a "higher mountain." He's an impenetrable wall that MMA has yet to breach.

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