All eyes are turning towards the much-anticipated fight for the UFC Welterweight title that will take place between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev. We wait with bated breath for the bout on November 15th when the Aussie and Russian will face off in Madison Square Garden.
It’s sure to be a close one between Della Maddalena, the current UFC Welterweight Champion, and Makhachev, the former Lightweight Champion. Both have the skills needed to take the title, but Makhachev will enter the contest as many people’s favorite, especially given his current all-round form. There’s more to look forward to with the Women’s Flyweight title between Shevchenko and Weili also on the cards!
A fight between champions
Both Maddalena and Makhachev know exactly what it takes to become a champion in the UFC, and it’s going to be one of the most closely matched bouts in years. Maddalena will be desperate to prove that his win against Belal Muhammad in May, which earned him the Welterweight title, wasn’t just a fluke. He entered the match as the underdog and won by split judge decision by the narrowest of margins, with two judges favoring the Aussie by 48-47.
Muhammad hadn’t lost a bout since 2019, but his opponent managed to land 200 strikes, which left him reeling! The Aussie’s plucky victory marked the eighth match in his unbeaten streak, so he has avoided tasting defeat since losing his first two professional matches.
Could Maddalena successfully defend his title?
Although he’s likely to be the outsider come November, you can never write Maddalena off. His ability to dodge, as well as his quick hands and strength, will make him a considerable opponent for the Russian. He was able to keep the fight against Muhammad mostly on his feet, his strongest style, and could prove a problem for Makhachev if he’s able to do so again. Maddalena also excels at takedown defense, which could help him put up a proper fight against Makhachev, who adopts a similar wrestling style to Muhammad.
Makhachev – a worthy opponent
For Maddalena, it will be a tough start to his title defense. His opponent has gone 15 matches undefeated since being knocked out by Adriano Martins in 2015. He’s just one short of the longest men’s UFC winning streak of all time, which is currently held by Anderson Silva who went on a fabled 16-bout winning streak following his 2006 debut in which he bested Chris Leben in just 49 seconds.
Makhachev had to vacate his lightweight crown, a title for which he defended a weight class-record four times, to get a chance at fighting Maddalena. His expertise lies on the mat with the Russian having a strong wrestling and grappling base. This could overwhelm Maddalena as it’s one of his weaker areas. Don’t think that he’s not proficient in other areas though, as Makhachev is one of the strongest all-round fighters the UFC has ever seen!
An all-round powerhouse
Former UFC welterweight competitor Dan Hardy thinks the bout will be just beyond the Aussie. In an interview with Helen Lee, he said: “I just think Islam’s all-round game is so problematic for any single fighter”. Hardy also praised Makhachev’s timing in moving up a weight class: “He’s allowed himself to move into a division where his body is just going to grow into it. He’s going to be incredibly powerful.”
He praised Maddalena’s boxing abilities, which have long been some of the best in the weight class. However, if the fight moves to the floor, which it should if Makhachev watched his opponent against Muhammad, Hardy believes Makhachev will be too powerful for the Aussie.
What will the odds look like come November?
It’s more than likely that Makhachev will be the favorite in terms of the odds as the bout in November approaches; however, things are going to be tight, and there might not be much difference between the prices. If you’re struggling to pick the victor, you could settle for a prop on something like how many rounds the match will last or whether it will be determined by knockout.
We’ll be looking at the odds closer to the bout to determine whether Makhachev will enter the fight as the favorite like most of the UFC world expects. To find the best odds available, many bettors use the leading comparison site BitEdge.com.
BitEdge.com compares the top options based on payment methods, bonuses, security and odds, to make sure that users will have the best experience regardless of which sportsbook they choose. Their team boasts some of the most respected voices in the industry, such as Will Wood, who combines 10 years of experience with being a keen bettor himself to bring bettors the most valuable insights.
Who else is on the UFC 322 card?
Maddalena versus Makhachev won’t be the only tasty fight on the UFC 322 card. In addition, Kyrgyzstan’s Shevchenko competes against China’s Weili in the co-main bout for the Women’s Flyweight title. This match-up of champions will have Shevchenko aiming to defend her flyweight belt against Weili, the current strawweight champion. Weili retained her title through decision in a fight against Tatiana Suarez in February of this year and will enter the November bout on a six-match winning streak.
The Champion Destroyer
Shevchenko is certainly not to be underestimated. In the past, she has put down five former champions, including Holly Holm, Julianna Pen and even Joanna Jedrzejczyk with an iconic spinning back fist! She held the title for five years between 2018 and 2023, before suffering a surprise loss against Mexico’s Alexa Grasso. After reclaiming the belt in her rematch against Grasso in 2024, Shevchenko has successfully defended it against challengers like Manon Fiorot.
Could Weili triumph in her first flyweight match?
It’s already hard to choose between the two champions with opening odds slightly favoring Shevchenko for her experience in the weight class. Although Weili is the best pound for pound in the women’s UFC, the flyweight champion is hot on her heels. The strawweight champion’s strong base of takedowns and striking, as well as her strength in kickboxing, make her one of the toughest opponents. After all, who could forget her iconic 21-match winning streak?
Just like her opponent, Weili is a three-time champion and arguably the best fighter ever in her division. The matchup of these two greats of the sport will make the perfect accompaniment to the Maddalena vs Makhachev fight and is set to be just as close.
Other bouts to watch out for at UFC 322
Aside from these two colossal bouts, there will be a further eight on the UFC 322 cards. One of the most interesting will be the other welterweight fight between England’s Leon Edwards and Brazil’s Carlos Prates. Although Edwards is currently ranked as one of the best in the weight class and is currently third, he’ll come into the fight as the underdog behind the fierce Brazilian.
The former champion from Birmingham will be looking to get things back on track after he lost his previous two matches and welterweight title. In March, he was out-grappled and outclassed overall by Sean Brady. This followed his defeat by knockout at the hands of Belal Muhammad the previous July. Prates will offer equally stiff competition, especially as he’s coming off a convincing first-round knockout against Geoff Neal in August. Edwards will have to watch out for the powerful knees and long reach of his competitor if he wants to get back to winning.
Who else will feature?
Outside of the main three bouts, there will be plenty to tune in for, including a tight lightweight fight between the USA’s own Beneil Dariush and Benoît Saint Denis from France. There will also be other home talent to cheer for, including Eric McConico, Bo Nickal and the all-American affair between Erin Blanchfield and Tracy Cortez!
Who will triumph in the UFC 322 card?
All eyes will be on the Octagon in Madison Square Gardens on November 15th for the stacked UFC 322 card. The co-main bout between Maddalena and Makhachev will certainly be close, with the two well-matched champions set to put on a fierce display. Given Makhachev’s form and history, he’ll likely enter the fight as the narrow favorite, but if Maddalena’s able to keep the fight on the feet, the Aussie could cause a major upset.
Make sure not to miss the Women’s Flyweight title bout between two of the sport’s greatest champions in Weili and Shevchenko. Another tie that is likely to be close, Shevchenko will be looking to defend her belt, while Weili sees if she has what it takes to be champion after her move up from strawweight. You can also catch Edwards versus Prates, as well as plenty of homegrown talent. It’s a night you won’t want to miss!