‘Open The White House, Donald Trump’! Islam Makhachev Seeks To Defend UFC Title At Washington DC

Islam Makhachev. (x)

Russian fighter Islam Makhachev cliched the Welterweight Championship title on Sunday with his win over Jack Della Maddalena to become UFC’s latest two-division champion.

Following the victory, Makhachev called on USA President Donald Trump to invite him to the UFC event slated to be held at the Washington DC monument next year.

“Donald Trump, open the White House. I’m coming,” he said when quizzed where he would like to defend his new title.

Makhachev, who moved up a weight class after vacating the lightweight crown for a new challenge, dominated his Australian opponent for 25 minutes using his smothering grappling technique, earning his 16th consecutive UFC victory.

The 34-year-old began by weakening his 29-year-old adversary with calf kicks, followed by a relentless wrestling offense. Della Maddalena struggled to defend himself, spending extended periods on the mat under submission threats and intense pressure.

“This is my plan. It’s not a secret; all my opponents know this, and nobody can stop it,” Makhachev remarked, later expressing his desire for his first title defense at the proposed event on the White House lawn in 2026.

All three judges scored the contest 50-45, making Makhachev the 11th fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two different weight classes.

In the co-headliner, Zhang Weili’s ambition to join that elite group was thwarted as Shevchenko delivered a dominant performance, retaining her flyweight crown. The 37-year-old from Kyrgyzstan showcased her comprehensive skill set, striking her Chinese opponent with punishing body kicks and controlling her on the mat whenever necessary, winning all five rounds on the judges’ scorecards to keep her title.