ISLAM MAKHACHEV fought back the tears after writing his name into the history books with a blowout victory over Jack Della Maddalena. The Russian wrecking machine challenged JDM for the

Islam Makhachev has gone from a quiet contender in Dagestan to one of the UFC’s standout champions. With UFC 322 approaching, the lightweight champion enters fight week not only as one of the most feared grapplers in the sport but also as one of its newest multi-millionaires.

His close friend, Belal Muhammad, held the welterweight title at the time, and Makhachev had no desire to fight him. This camaraderie reflects the strong bonds within the MMA community, where personal relationships often influence professional decisions.

Makhachev (27-1) will look to become the 11th two-division champion in UFC history when he challenges welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) inside New York's Madison Square Garden. With a win, the 34-year-old would also tie Hall of Famer Anderson Silva for the most consecutive wins in UFC history with 16.

The UFC resumes pay-per-view action this weekend with a stacked card in New York City. The MMA leader will return to Madison Square Garden early on tomorrow morning for its penultimate