On November 16, as part of UFC 322 in New York, USA, Makhachev won the title in the welterweight division by defeating Jack Della Maddalena on points.
"I think it will be much harder with Ilia than with Maddalena. Because of the anthropometry, and I think Ilia has a much heavier punch than Maddalena. Ilia knocks almost everyone down," said Tsarukyan in an interview with Red Corner MMA