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Islam Makhachev must break 21-year run to win welterweight title in UFC 322 super fight

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Ross Markey | Last updated Nov 12, 2025 9:12 PM ET

Making his long-mooted welterweight bow this weekend at UFC 322, Islam Makhachev is tasked with snapping a more-than-lengthy streak dating back two decades.

Leaving the lightweight championship behind in the summer, former pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev boasts a spectacular record in the division, racking up the most title defenses.

Tackling newly minted champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in his bid to join an exclusive list of dual-weight champions in promotional history, Makhachev has a goal in common with a former lightweight champion, too.

However, in order to join that Hall of Famer, Makhachev will have to break a streak dating all the way back to 2004.

B.J. Penn is the last lightweight champion to win welterweight gold

Initially winning welterweight gold in 2004 with a memorable submission win over Matt Hughes in his divisional bow, B.J. Penn would then move back to lightweight to score championship spoils.

Fighting to a draw with Caol Uno the year prior in his bid to capture the lightweight crown, it would take the Hawaiian four years to win a title with an iconic win over Joe Stevenson in a rare trip to the UK.

January 31st, 2004

UFC 46: Supernatural

Matt Hughes

BJ “The Prodigy” Penn moves up to Welterweight and submits then five time defending Welterweight Champion, Matt Hughes (who had a record of 35-3 at the time) in the first round.

Ridiculous upset!!! This is the equivalent of… pic.twitter.com/SjdoKITS7X
— Mixed Martial Aus (@MixedMartialAus) April 4, 2024

Enjoying a mixed bag of success at the welterweight limit in the Octagon, Penn would suffer losses to Georges St-Pierre and then a rematch defeat to Matt Hughes, before another defeat to St-Pierre and a rubber match success against Hughes again.

Marking the last occasion in which a former lightweight champion made good on a welterweight move to snatch gold, Makhachev can become the first in promotional history to win spoils at 170lbs in his debut after previously holding the championship a division lighter.

However, in order to do so, he must put to bed a 21-year record.

Islam Makhachev’s only history with a welterweight star

Over the course of his lightweight run, Makhachev only fought against a welterweight challenger on one single occasion.

Besting his fellow 155lb stars as well as a host of former featherweight talents, in 2018, Makhachev was pitted against Brazilian veteran Gleison Tibau.

And needing just 57 seconds to stop the future welterweight star, Makhachev scored an emphatic knockout win at UFC 220 in Boston.

Ahead of his fight with Della Maddalena, Makhachev will embark on an uncharted course, with his only experience against a welterweight coming in his win over Tibau.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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