Nov 15, 2025; New York, NY, UNITED STATES; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) celebrates after defeating Jack Della Maddalena (not pictured) by unanimous decision in the welterweight championship bout during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

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‘Open The White House’ – New Welterweight Champ Islam Makhachev Throws His Name In For The UFC White House Card!

The UFC has hosted events in some incredible locations over the years. Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island became Fight Island during the pandemic. The promotion has held cards in massive football stadiums worldwide. They did one in The Sphere in Las Vegas. They have even ventured into Australia, Brazil, and countries across Europe. But nothing quite compares to what’s planned for 2026.

Dana White announced something absolutely wild back in August 2025. The UFC will hold an event on the White House grounds. President Donald Trump confirmed the specific date later on. June 14th, 2026 marks both the historic card and Trump’s eightieth birthday. Fighters will walk to the octagon from the Oval Office itself. The South Lawn will host the action with limited seating under five thousand. It’s an unprecedented moment for MMA in America. New welterweight champ Islam Makhachev throws his name in for the UFC White House card after his dominant performance Saturday night.

Islam Makhachev Makes His Case For UFC White House

Islam Makhachev wasted no time campaigning for that historic event. He called on President Trump during his post-fight interview at UFC 322. When Joe Rogan asked him what he wanted to do next, this is what he said:

“Donald Trump, let’s go. Open the White House, I’m coming.”

The timing couldn’t have been better for making that statement either. He had just become the welterweight champion minutes earlier by dominating Jack Della Maddalena. The Dagestani fighter looked absolutely incredible in his divisional debut. Questions existed about whether his style would translate to welterweight. Would the bigger fighters pose problems for his grappling game? Could he handle the increased power at 170 pounds? Makhachev answered everything emphatically with a flawless five-round performance.

Islam Makhachev’s Dominant Victory

Makhachev (28-1)earned his White House callout through complete domination of Della Maddalena. The Australian champion entered as the toughest test of Makhachev’s career.. His power and pressure had overwhelmed opponents throughout his winning streak. But Islam Makhachev made it look easy from the opening bell.

He took Della Maddalena down repeatedly throughout all five rounds consistently. The timing of his takedowns was absolutely phenomenal each time. JDM barely got a chance to defend before hitting the canvas. Once there, Makhachev controlled position beautifully while landing damaging strikes. He threatened submissions multiple times including arm triangles and rear-naked chokes.

All smiles from the champ 💪

[ #VeChain #UFC322 | @MAKHACHEVMMA ] pic.twitter.com/ckOFQ8hEFV
— UFC (@ufc) November 16, 2025

The judges scored it 50-45 across all three scorecards unanimously. That’s as one-sided as championship fights get at this level. Makhachev joined the exclusive club of only eleven fighters holding titles in two weight classes. His performance silenced any doubters about his welterweight credentials permanently.

Now Makhachev stands as arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter alive. His resume continues growing with each dominant victory. A White House defense would cement his legacy even further. Whether Trump grants his wish remains to be seen. But after Saturday’s performance, Makhachev definitely deserves consideration for that historic card!

(Image Credit: Ed Mulholland – Imagn Images)

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

UFC 322

UFC White House

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!