By Simon Head for FightMatrix.com
The welterweight division took center stage at UFC 322 as a host of the top names at 170 pounds saw their stock rise, and in some cases fall, on a big week for the weight class in New York City.
The Winners
Islam Makhachev: A new champion is crowned
The former undisputed UFC lightweight champion looked bigger, stronger and healthier on fight night at Madison Square Garden. But, more worryingly for the rest of the welterweight division, he looked better, too, as he dethroned Jack Della Maddalena with consummate ease.
With Makhachev looking like he’s now at his optimal weight class, he can now focus on adding to his already-stellar resumé as he looks to build a list of accomplishments to put him among the sport’s all-time greats. Some may think it’s a tad early to suggest it, but he may already have surpassed the achievements of his coach, friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov.\
It’s likely the oddsmakers will have Makhachev as the betting favorite against any of the division’s contenders when he puts his title on the line, and you can check out the latest UFC betting info and more odds on FIRST.com. But one thing Makhachev won’t have is an easy ride, with the list of contenders looking as stacked as you’ll find in any division in the UFC.
Michael Morales: Undefeated contender becomes impossible to ignore
Ecuador’s undefeated contender has been viewed as an exciting, dangerous talent at 170 pounds, but there were still question marks over how he would fare when he was thrown in with a top-drawer contender. Those questions were emphatically answered as he demolished number-two-ranked Sean Brady in less than four minutes in their main card matchup at The Garden.
Morales’ power and shot selection saw him hurt Brady repeatedly, and when he got his man in trouble, he kept the pressure on to eventually score a statement TKO victory. He might well be the most interesting option for Makhachev’s first title defense next year.
Carlos Prates: Brazilian striker offers crowd-pleasing option
Check the record. Every time Carlos Prates wins in the UFC, he wins by knockout. Not by referee stoppage, not by corner stoppage – by knockout. That remarkable run continued at UFC 322 when he starched Leon Edwards with a lightning-fast straight left that separated the former welterweight champion from his senses for one of the finishes of the night at Madison Square Garden.
It was the first time Edwards had been knocked out in his career, and gave Prates back-to-back KO victories after losing a decision to Ian Machado Garry earlier in the year. Make no mistake, Prates is back, and he’s right in the mix at the top of the division.
The Losers
Jack Della Maddalena: Disastrous title defense puts him behind the 8-ball
Jack Della Maddalena looked a shadow of the man who dominated Belal Muhammad to win the welterweight title earlier this year as he was big brothered for 25 minutes by Islam Makhachev.
Despite being demoralized and hurt during the bout, Della Maddalena didn’t quit, and he took the fight to the scorecards, where he lost a shutout unanimous decision. But after a loss like that, the pressure will be on when he eventually makes his return to the Octagon next year.
Sean Brady: Hard work undone in less than four minutes
It’s hard not to feel for Sean Brady. He’d done all the hard yards to put himself in pole position to challenge for the title, then the lightweight champ moved up and took his spot. Then, to make matters worse, he faces the most dangerous contender in the division and gets stopped in the first round.
It means that the Philadelphia native has a big job on his hands to get back into position to challenge for the belt next year. The division is so crowded, it’ll likely need two emphatic victories over fellow top-ranked contenders just to put him in the conversation.
Leon Edwards: First career KO defeat
Leon Edwards finds himself at a career crossroads after the most damaging defeat of his career. After losing his title to Belal Muhammad in Manchester at UFC 304, Edwards was then dominated in London by Sean Brady as he dropped back-to-back fights for the first time in his career. Then, on Saturday night at UFC 322, Edwards experienced another unwanted first, as he was knocked out for the first time in his career by Carlos Prates.
Now the former welterweight champion finds himself on a three-fight skid, and very much on the outside of the welterweight title picture, looking in.