UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev

Arguably the biggest event of the year, UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev takes place on Saturday, November 15th, at Madison Square Garden and features two title fights: Jack Della Maddalena (C) vs Islam Makhachev and Valentina Shevchenko (C) vs Zhang Weili.

Jack Della Maddalena enters with an 18-2 professional record, making his first title defense since defeating Belal Muhammad back in May. Though a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Della Maddalena is primarily a striker known for his sharp boxing, relentless body work, and patient composure. Former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, by contrast, is an elite grappler trained in the Dagestani school of combat sambo, known for his positional dominance and submission game (although his striking has improved greatly in recent years). This will be Makhachev’s first fight since moving up to welterweight, but the size difference between the two is minimal, with the only advantage being Della Maddalena’s reach.

In the co-main event, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (C) defends her title against former strawweight queen Zhang Weili, who is moving up in weight. Shevchenko remains one of the most complete female fighters in UFC history, combining precise striking, elite defense, and high fight IQ. Weili, known for her power and pressure, will be put to the test to see if her dominance translates in the heavier division.