Della Maddalena VS Makhachev: UFC 322 is Shaping Up to Be a Spectacle

This weekend ahead brings about another big Ultimate Fighting Championship event, again hosted in one of the best Mixed Martial Arts cities on the planet. The upcoming spectacle, dubbed UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev, is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The luckiest fans already have their tickets booked, while the rest will be able to watch it live on one of the many services and channels. The broadcast schedule lists early prelims beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET, featured prelims at 8:00 p.m. ET, and the main pay per view card starting at 10:00 p.m. ET. It is going to be a great night of action and MMA spectacle once again in the Big Apple; that much is guaranteed. 

There are 13 bouts announced for the card, featuring a deep lineup of established contenders and rising prospects. The headline fight pits welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who has moved up in weight in pursuit of a second division title. The co main event features women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko defending her belt against former strawweight champion Zhang Weili, who vacated her title to move up in the division. With two division moves, it is one of the more interesting title doubleheaders the fans have had in a while. The stakes are high, so here is how to bet on UFC 322 if you like to engage with the fights on a deeper level. 

New York and UFC 

UFC 322 marks the promotion’s 12th visit to New York City and the first since UFC 309 in November 2024. New York holds a special place in UFC history, as it was the site of the organization’s first ever sanctioned event in the state, the iconic UFC 205, held on November 12, 2016, also at Madison Square Garden. That event marked a historic milestone after years of lobbying for MMA’s legalization in the state and has since set the tone for the UFC’s tradition of staging blockbuster cards in New York every fall. Apart from the unofficial capital for the sport and its most successful and famous promotion, Las Vegas, NYC is the second best location for spectacles that the bouts always bring along. 

Significance of This Event

UFC 322 carries special significance for both sporting and symbolic reasons. The main and co main events each feature fighters attempting to claim championships in multiple divisions, which automatically heightens the stakes and has potential legacy implications for all four of them. Islam Makhachev’s move to welterweight represents a chance to become a rare two division UFC champion, while Zhang Weili seeks to do the same in the women’s flyweight division. If they win the titles, they will be propelled into stardom and royalty of the sport with titles in different divisions. For the defenders, Dela Madalena and Shevchenko, it will be a confirmation and proof that it is not enough to make the necessary weight changes, shift one division over, and aim for the title. 

Hosting the event at Madison Square Garden shows the UFC’s ongoing commitment to delivering premier shows at one of the world’s most iconic sports venues. Every return to New York has been treated as a statement event by the organization, and UFC 322 continues that legacy. It has to go big whenever it comes to the Mecca that is MSg, which is why a fine blend of divisions and plenty of fights are a must. Because how else will the city with constant sports championship ambitions, historical resonance, and the electric atmosphere be in line with what UFC stands for? It is bound to become synonymous with MMA’s biggest moments at some point, and we are getting very close indeed.

UFC 322 Odds and Predictions

Let us not focus on the sportsbook predictions and fighters for the UFC 322 Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev event. The night starts with the Russian Viachleslav Borshcev fighting the Brazilian Matheus Camilo. Camilo is the odds favorite with 1.58 over Borshchev with 2.45. The Brazilian has a 9-3 record, while his opponent is at 8-6-1. 

Next up is the most one sided bout of the night when Baysangur Sasurkaev from Russia, with a 10-0 record, takes on the American Eric McConico with 10-3-1. The favorite has 1.11 odds over his opponent, who is a hefty underdog with 7.00.

The first women’s fight of the night sees the Rank 12 American Angela Hill fight fellow countrywoman Fatima Kline. Hill is the underdog in this one with 5.00 odds, as Kline has strong 1.19 odds. Younger and in better shape, Kline has a record of 8-1, while Hill is at 18-15. 

In another USA matchup, Pat Sabatini fights Chepe Mariscal. It is a battle of very experienced fighters with 20-5 and 18-6 records, respectively. The odds are quite close at 1.77 for Sabatini and 2.10 for Mariscal, promising a hard fought and close clash. 

Australian fighter Cody Haddon will face off against Malcolm Wellmaker from the USA. Haddon is 8-1 and the underdog here with 2.29 odds. Wellmaker is a bit more experienced and has a perfect 10-0 record with 1.66 odds to win in this one. 

Next up on the ladies’ side is one more all American duel. Rank 4 Erin Blanchfeld (13-2) takes on Rank 8 Tracy Cortez (12-2), in what could be an even matchup. The bookies did not think so, though, as Blanchfield is at 1.42 as the favorite and Cortez at 2.95 as the underdog. 

Right after comes what could be one of the hardest battles of the night when Roman Kopylov from Russia, a 14-4 fighter, takes on Gregory Rodrigues, 17-6, from Brazil. The Brazilian is the favorite with 1.54, while the Russian gets 2.55 as the less favorted of the two. 

There is one more American clash waiting for the fans when Bo Nickal and Rodolfo Vieira go head to head. Nickal is at 7-1 right now, while Vieira is at 11-3. The former is the bookies’ odds frontrunner with 1.43, while his countryman is not entirely without a chance with 2.90. 

The main card starts with a heavyweight clash between Beneil Dariush from the USA, ranked 9, and Benoit Saint Denis from France, ranked 13. The American has a 23-6-1 record and has 2.55 odds as the underdog. His French opponent is at 15-3 and is the favorite with 1.54 odds. 

In the welterweight division, the Brit, Leon Edwards, as the No. 4 ranked fighter, takes on the No. 9 ranked Brazilian Carlos Prates. Edwards has a record of 22-5, while Prates is at 22-7. However, the latter is the favorite with 1.53 while the former is at 2.60. 

Sean Brady will clash against Michael Morales, as the 2nd and 8th ranked welterweights square off. Brady is 18-1, while his opponent is undefeated at 18-0. That does not give him the edge in the odds, though, as Brady is the favorite with 1.77 versus Morales’ 2.11 odds. 

The co headliner of the night sees Zhang Weili from China with the UFC record of 26-3 take on the flyweight champion from Kyrgyzstan, Valentina Shevchenko, who is at 25-4-1. The challenger is the underdog, but only slightly, at 2.15, while the champion is the favorite with 1.74 odds to continue holding the belt.

Finally, in the headliner of the night, the titular clash of UFC 322, Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) from Australia, the welterweight champion, faces the challenger from Russia, Islam Makhachev. At 27-1, Makhachev is the favorite and not by a slight margin, as he gets 1.38 odds as opposed to Della Maddalena’s 3.15. 

FAQs about Jack Della Maddalena

1. Who is Jack Della Maddalena?

Jack Della Maddalena is an Australian mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC’s welterweight division. He was born on September 10, 1996, in Perth, Western Australia.

2. What is his current status in the UFC?

As of 2025, Jack is the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion and one of the top ranked fighters in the world, sitting in the men’s pound for pound top 10.

3. How did his early professional career go?

Jack made his professional debut in 2016 and lost his first two fights. Rather than quitting, he used those setbacks as motivation and went on an impressive winning streak that earned him a place in the UFC.

4. What is his fighting style, and what are his strengths?

He’s known for crisp, powerful boxing and exceptional timing. He also holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, making him dangerous both on the feet and on the ground.

5. Which gym does he train at?

Jack trains at Scrappy MMA in Perth, under coach Ben Vickers, alongside a team of rising Australian fighters.

6. What are some of his key accomplishments?

He is the defending UFC Welterweight Champion, former Eternal MMA Welterweight Champion, and has received multiple UFC Performance of the Night bonuses for his knockout wins.

7. What’s his professional record?

As of 2025, Jack holds an 18-2 professional record, with most of his victories coming by knockout and a few by submission.

8. Does he have any upcoming fights or challenges?

Yes, he is scheduled to defend his title against Islam Makhachev on November 15, 2025, at UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden, a matchup that is generating major buzz among fans.

9. What personal hurdles has he overcome?

Jack suffered a serious arm injury and a dangerous bone infection earlier in his career that required surgery and rehabilitation. His return to championship form is seen as one of MMA’s great comeback stories.

10. What makes him stand out among welterweights?

Jack combines elite level boxing with high fight IQ and composure under pressure. His calm demeanor, precision striking, and relentless pace have made him one of the most exciting and respected fighters in the UFC today.

FAQs about Islam Makhachev

1. Who is Islam Makhachev?
   Islam Makhachev is a professional mixed martial artist from Dagestan, Russia. He competes in the UFC’s lightweight division and is known for his dominant grappling and all around skill. He’s a close friend and training partner of former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
2. What is Islam Makhachev’s fighting style?
   Makhachev’s fighting style blends Sambo, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He’s a world champion in Combat Sambo and is known for his control, takedowns, and submissions, very similar to Khabib’s style but with more refined striking.
3. When did Islam Makhachev start his MMA career?
   He made his professional MMA debut in 2010 and joined the UFC in 2015. Over the years, he’s developed into one of the most well rounded fighters in the lightweight division.
4. What titles has Islam Makhachev won?
   Islam Makhachev is the UFC Lightweight Champion. He won the belt by defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 (October 2022) and has successfully defended it multiple times, including notable wins over Alexander Volkanovski.
5. Who is Islam Makhachev’s coach?
   His head coach is Javier Mendez of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California. He also trains under the mentorship of Khabib Nurmagomedov, who helps guide his game plans and training camps.
6. What is Islam Makhachev’s relationship with Khabib Nurmagomedov?
   Khabib and Islam are lifelong friends who grew up training together in Dagestan. Khabib’s late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, coached both of them. After Khabib retired, Islam became the new face of their team.
7. What is Islam Makhachev’s record?
   As of late 2025, Islam Makhachev’s professional MMA record stands at 26 wins and 1 loss (exact numbers can vary depending on his latest fights). His only loss came early in his UFC career.
8. What are Islam Makhachev’s strengths as a fighter?
   His biggest strengths are grappling control, takedown defense, and fight IQ. Recently, he’s also shown major improvements in striking, scoring impressive knockouts, showing he’s more than just a grappler.
9. Where is Islam Makhachev from?
   He was born in Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia, and raised in the village of Burtunay. Dagestan is known for producing elite combat sports athletes, especially in wrestling and sambo.
10. What does Islam Makhachev do outside the octagon?
    Outside fighting, Makhachev keeps a private life. He’s deeply religious (Muslim), values family, and occasionally participates in charity work in Dagestan. He’s also known for his humble personality and discipline.