Makhachev on winning his second UFC title: "We made history"

UFC welterweight champion Russian Islam Makhachev posted a message on social media after his victory over Australian Jack Della Maddalena, reports BAKU.WS with reference to Gazeta.ru.

"Today we made history. All the hard work paid off. Thank you to everyone who supported and worried about us - we are returning home with the belts!" - he wrote.

On the morning of November 16, Makhachev defeated Maddalena at UFC 322 in a five-round bout and took the welterweight championship title from him. The fight went the full distance and ended with a unanimous decision by the judges - 50-45, 50-45, 50-45.

34-year-old Makhachev moved to the welterweight division after a long period of dominance in the lightweight division (up to 70.3 kg), where he became the UFC champion and set a record for the number of defenses - four successful defenses in a row. To move up to the higher category, he was forced to vacate the lightweight belt.

Before Makhachev, no Russian athlete in the UFC had managed to become a champion in two different weight categories.