Blended martial arts (MMA) famous person Islam Makhachev will take a shot at successful his first title within the welterweight division when he takes on reigning champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.
Makhachev’s final UFC combat was in January when he defeated Renato Moicano by submission to efficiently defend his light-weight title belt, which he first received in 2022.
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4 months later, the Russian fighter vacated the light-weight title and boldly introduced his resolution to maneuver up a weight class and problem Australia’s Della Maddalena in one of the vital eagerly awaited UFC fights on the 2025 calendar.
Right here’s what it is advisable to find out about UFC 322:
When does the UFC 322 combat begin?
- The Della Maddalena-Makhachev predominant occasion will probably be held on Saturday at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis.
- The five-fight predominant card is scheduled to start at 10pm (03:00 GMT on Sunday) with the ring stroll for the Della Maddalena-Makhachev bout not anticipated earlier than 11:30pm (04:30 GMT on Sunday).
- The four-fight preliminary card begins at 8pm (01:00 GMT on Sunday).
Why did Makhachev change from light-weight to welterweight?
Makhachev, a four-time defending light-weight champion, vacated the belt in Might to maneuver as much as the welterweight classification.
The Russian informed ESPN that it was tough to chop weight for the 155lb (70kg) light-weight class and it affected his efficiency and restoration.
“My life modified after I modified the load division. All my life, I had to consider what I eat. … Now I can eat no matter I need and smile.”
“At 155lb, it’s so tough. … Now, I’m very excited to see how I really feel within the cage,” he stated.
Della Maddalena vs Makhachev – a distinction in preventing types
Della Maddalena is a disciple of Brazilian jujitsu and trains below the famend Australian coach Ben Vickers. Not surprisingly, Della Maddalena excels at highly effective but correct punching and kicking to the physique and face. He’s a deadly striker on the counterattack.
Vickers, in a latest interview with Fox Sports activities, insisted his charger will silence the various doubters who consider Makhachev and his trademark grappling-wrestling background will show an excessive amount of for the Australian.
“He’ll simply carry on turning as much as beat whoever you place in entrance of him,” Vickers stated.
“He’s simply taken Belal Muhammad’s streak. Subsequent, he’ll take Islam’s streak. Then will probably be [fellow welterweight contender] Shavkat Rakhmonov’s streak. He’ll take all of them.”
Makhachev’s trademark fashion – which has been honed below the tutelage of legendary ex-UFC competitor Khabib Nurmagomedov – is constructed on a world class wrestling and grappling basis. He’s additionally an underrated striker of opponents.
His excellent ground-and-pound assault, which he asserts after gaining high management, wears down his opponents and often leads to submissions.
Della Maddalena-Makhachev: What are the betting odds?
Della Maddalena will begin as a heavy underdog in opposition to Makhachev with the bookmakers.
The percentages have Makhachev marked because the -275 favorite at Wager MGM in america with Della Maddalena at +225.
Equally, bookmakers exterior the US have the Russian priced at $1.36 for the victory with Della Maddalena a protracted shot for the win at $3.25, in accordance with Bet365.
Will Donald Trump attend the combat?
At this stage, it’s unknown whether or not US President Donald Trump will attend UFC 322 within the metropolis the place he was born and spent most of his life.
Trump attended the final main UFC occasion within the space – UFC 316 – on June 7 in Newark, New Jersey, simply throughout the Hudson River from New York.
The 79-year-old’s affiliation with the UFC dates again to 2001 when he hosted two occasions in New Jersey.
If Makhachev beats Della Maddalena, will he combat Topuria?
Ilia Topuria and Makhachev, ranked number one and quantity 2 on ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings, are broadly thought of the highest MMA fighters on the earth, and Topuria has already stated he would transfer up one other weight class to face Makhachev on the 170lb (77kg) welterweight restrict if the Russian beats Della Maddalena.
Each fighters have agreed that if the bout happens, then the much-hyped UFC occasion on the White Home in June could be the best venue for staging what could be thought of the most important field workplace UFC contest for the reason that memorable Nurmagomedov-Conor McGregor confrontation in 2018.
“I noticed the [Charles Oliveira] combat; [Topuria,] he’s good,” Makhachev informed ESPN. “I’ve combat now, and I do know [Topuria] goes to combat quickly, and we’ll see what’s gonna occur. He desires to combat on the White Home, and I additionally need to be there. I do know the UFC desires to do some massive combat within the White Home. Which combat goes to be greater than this?”
The UFC has not introduced any fights for the White Home occasion though Trump has said it would take place on June 14.
Who’s Islam Makhachev?
- The 34-year-old fighter from the Dagestan area of Russia is likely one of the greatest names in MMA due to his three-year undefeated streak because the UFC light-weight champion.
- A protege and shut pal of UFC legend Nurmagomedov, whose father, Abdulmanap, educated each Dagestani males, Makhachev made his MMA debut in 2011 and signed his first contract with the UFC three years later.
- The southpaw is famend for his sturdy grappling abilities and a formidable hanging accuracy (59 %) with a attain of 70 inches (178cm). Throughout his greater than decade-long profession within the UFC, Makhachev has established himself as a legend within the light-weight division, having efficiently defended his belt on 4 events.
- Makhachev, who just lately vacated the UFC light-weight title to maneuver up, is on an unbelievable run of 15 straight UFC wins relationship again to October 3, 2015, when he misplaced the one skilled combat of his MMA profession in opposition to Adriano Martins of Brazil.
Who’s Jack Della Maddalena?
- Maddalena, additionally identified by his initials JDM, is from Perth, Australia, and is a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu.
- He stands 5ft, 11 inches tall (1.8 metres) and his present preventing weight is listed at 77kg (170lb).
- He’s undefeated in 18 straight MMA fights relationship again to Might 28, 2016.
- The 29-year-old grew to become the brand new UFC welterweight champion at UFC 315 on Might 10 when he upset Muhammad at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
- He will probably be making his first UFC title defence on Saturday in opposition to Makhachev.
What has Makhachev stated in regards to the combat?
Saturday’s combat will probably be Makhachev’s sixth title combat in a row however first as a challenger. In an ESPN interview on October 27, the Russian broke down the Australian’s strengths and weaknesses.
“I watched all his fights. He’s good. His hanging is sweet. His boxing is excellent, you already know. His wrestling not so good however he’s good on the bottom. He know find out how to defend, find out how to escape, find out how to rise up, you already know. He has good abilities on the bottom additionally. … His hanging is basically good. That’s why he is likely one of the finest on the earth proper now.”
On shifting up a weight class to combat Della Maddalena:
“He isn’t like some man who has loopy energy. … I don’t suppose Jack has greater than me.”
On Nurmagomedov’s pre-fight message to him:
“It’s not a secret. He informed me: ‘Take him down.’”
“I feel I can end him on the bottom – choke him, do an arm bar or one thing. I noticed his abilities are good on the bottom. They’re good – however I’ve one thing extra.”
What has Della Maddalena stated in regards to the combat?
The welterweight champ claims his grappling proficiency within the octagon will shock Makhachev:
“Most likely in his thoughts, he thinks he’ll take me down, immobilise me and even end me. However I’ve sufficient degree to shock him on the bottom: power, approach and defences that we’ve been engaged on consistently. When he performs at his highest degree, I’ll be capable to destabilise him. The secret’s to remain calm. Individuals underestimate how disconcerting it may be for somebody to be serene and targeted. I feel a big a part of the combat will probably be standing, and that’s the place I can shock him,” stated Della Maddalena on Mainevent TV.
Della Maddalena on Makhachev shifting up a weight class to combat him:
“I feel it’s good for him to maneuver up. It was clearly an enormous wake-up for him. He’s clearly getting greater, rising. I feel it’s transfer for him. I simply suppose it’s unhealthy timing,” he stated on the New York Publish Sports activities podcast.
What’s Makhachev’s combat document?
- Fights: 28
- Wins: 27
- Loss: 1
- Knockouts: 5 wins, 1 loss
- Submission: 13 wins
- Choice: 9 wins
What’s Della Maddalena’s combat document?
- Fights: 20
- Wins: 18
- Losses: 2
- Knockouts: 12 wins, 1 loss
- Submission: 2 wins, 1 loss
- Choice: 4 wins
Stat Assault
- Makhachev – variety of days since his final defeat: 3,697 (October 3, 2015, to November 15)
- Della Maddalena – variety of days since his final defeat: 3,461 (Might 28, 2016, to November 15)
Who’s preventing within the co-main occasion at UFC 322?
In Saturday’s penultimate bout at UFC 322, ladies’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan will defend her title in opposition to China’s Zhang Weili within the co-main occasion.
Zhang, a former strawweight titleholder, vacated her belt and moved up a division to combat Shevchenko in what guarantees to be a captivating contest between two of the most important feminine stars within the UFC.
What’s the total combat card for UFC 322?
Foremost card (10pm begin | 03:00 GMT on Sunday):
- Della Maddalena (Australia) vs Makhachev (Russia) – title bout
- Shevchenko (Kyrgyzstan) vs Zhang (China) – title bout
- Sean Brady (US) vs Michael Morales (Ecuador) – welterweight
- Leon Edwards (United Kingdom) vs Carlos Prates (Brazil) – welterweight
- Beneil Dariush (US) vs Benoit Saint Denis (France) – light-weight
Preliminary card (8pm begin | 01:00 GMT on Sunday):
- Bo Nickal (US) vs Rodolfo Vieira (Brazil) – middleweight
- Roman Kopylov (Russia) vs Gregory Rodrigues (Brazil) – middleweight
- Erin Blanchfield (US) vs Tracy Cortez (US) – ladies’s flyweight
- Malcolm Wellmaker (US) vs Cody Haddon (Australia) – bantamweight
The way to watch UFC 322
Al Jazeera Sport may have a live build-up and text commentary stream for the combat from 01:00 GMT on Sunday.
UFC 322 is a pay-per-view occasion and will probably be proven by varied on-line streaming providers, together with ESPN+ within the US, DAZN, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports activities.
