UFC 322: makhachev Challenges Della Maddalena, Weili Eyes History – Live Updates & Preview
New York, NY – UFC 322 descends upon Madison Square Garden this Saturday, promising a night of high-stakes action headlined by a welterweight title clash and a co-main event with potential to rewrite the record books. This event marks the ninth UFC card held at the iconic venue since the legalization of MMA in New York in 2016, and is notable as one of the last to be distributed by ESPN before the UFC’s landmark $7.7 billion, seven-year media rights deal with Paramount takes effect in 2026.
The card boasts a remarkable concentration of championship talent, featuring five fighters who currently hold or recently held titles, setting the stage for potential shifts in the all-time rankings.
Main Event: Makhachev‘s Welterweight Bid
Islam Makhachev (24-1) is embarking on a new challenge, moving up to 170 pounds to face reigning welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena (12-2). Makhachev, a former lightweight champion, carries a formidable winning streak, and a victory would see him equal Anderson Silva‘s UFC record of 16 consecutive wins. Success would also cement his legacy as yet another fighter to capture titles across multiple weight classes.
Co-Main Event: Weili’s Flyweight Pursuit
Prior to the main event, zhang Weili aims to become only the second woman in UFC history to hold championships in two different divisions. After relinquishing her strawweight title in October, Weili will challenge flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (24-4). The chinese fighter previously enjoyed a dominant run in the strawweight division,successfully defending the title four times across two reigns.
Challengers Facing Size Advantages
Both Makhachev and Weili enter their respective title fights as challengers, and will be facing opponents who possess a clear size advantage in their new weight classes. This dynamic adds another layer of intrigue to both highly anticipated bouts.
For a deeper dive into the matchups and what to expect, see the full preview here.
Stay tuned for live updates throughout the night, including prelim results as they become available.
