UFC 322 takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday 15 November (Sunday the 16th of November in South Africa), featuring two massive title fights headlined by a welterweight showdown between Della Maddalena and Makhachev. We’ll take a closer look at the Main Event as well as two additional fights on the Main Card from a betting perspective.
Click here to bet on the full fight card.
JACK DELLA MADDALENA vs ISLAM MAKHACHEV
Welterweight – Main Event – Title Fight
Jack Della Maddalena, holding a UFC record of 8 wins without a loss, has become one of the most polished strikers in the UFC since debuting in 2022. The Australian has put together a dominant run through the welterweight division with victories over Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland, and Randy Brown.
Known for his elite boxing and fluid movement, Della Maddalena now enters his first welterweight title defence after claiming the belt in May when he fought Belal Muhammad and won the fight by decision. He enters this weekend riding an impressive 18-fight win streak across his professional career.
Islam Makhachev who boasts a near perfect record of 16 wins and just 1 defeat, is widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. After ruling the lightweight division with wins over Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski (twice) and Dustin Poirier, the Russian superstar now steps up to 170lbs in pursuit of a second UFC belt.
His wrestling, top control and relentless pressure make him extremely dangerous on the ground, and his striking has improved significantly over the years. Makhachev enters UFC 322 riding a 15-fight winning run and his most recent outing came in January when he submitted Renato Moicano in the first round.
PREDICTION:
Della Maddalena’s sharp boxing gives him the edge on the feet, but Makhachev’s pressure and control are likely to dictate the fight over five rounds. I am expecting the challenger to close distance, wear on the champion and eventually find a finish.
VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO vs ZHANG WEILI
Women’s Flyweight – Title Fight
Valentina Shevchenko enters this bout with a record of 14 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw within the institution, and is one of the most technically gifted fighters in MMA history. The Kyrgyzstan standout is a dominant champion who reclaimed her flyweight belt in 2024 after years of elite performances.
Her precision, timing and tactical intelligence continue to make her the standard of the division and she recently picked up a decision victory over Manon Fiorot to retain the belt when they met in May. Out of her last 14 fights, 13 have been title fights of which she has won 10.
Zhang Weili, owning an impressive record of 12 wins and 2 losses in the UFC, has been one of the most talented champions at strawweight. The Chinese powerhouse brings explosive striking, exceptional strength and pace that breaks opponents down.
Now moving up to challenge for a second UFC title, she carries championship confidence and athleticism into this matchup. She has taken part in 8 fights for the belt or to defend it over her career, winning 6 of these fights. The last time she stepped in the octagon was in February where she beat Tatiana Suarez by decision.
PREDICTION:
This contest highlights Shevchenko’s technical excellence against Weili’s physical strength and relentless pace. It will be competitive early, but Shevchenko’s power and forward pressure may earn her a decision win.
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SEAN BRADY vs MICHAEL MORALES
Welterweight – Main Card Bout
Sean Brady is an American with a professional slate of 8 wins and only 1 defeat inside the organisation. Known for his excellent grappling and durability, he is riding a 3-fight run in the winning column.
His latest action came in March where he went to war with Leon Edwards, picking up a submission win in the fourth round.
Michael Morales carries an undefeated professional record of 18 wins with zero losses of which 6 of his wins have been in the UFC. Representing Ecuador, the young contender is one of the most exciting rising talents.
He last fought in May where he went up against Gilbert Burns and beat him by knockout in the first round.
PREDICTION:
Brady’s grappling threat will be prominent, but Morales’ takedown defence and sharp striking should keep this fight mostly on the feet. As the bout progresses, I believe Brady gets his way and catches Morales with a submission in the third round.
SUGGESTED BETS:
Della Maddalena vs Makhachev
Makhachev by submission at 3.00
Shevchenko vs Zhang
Shevchenko by decision at 2.45
Brady vs Morales
Brady by submission at 5.25
Note: All prices are correct at the time of writing but subject to change.
