UFC 322 Championship Showdown: Della Maddalena Faces Makhachev in Pivotal Welterweight Title Bout at Madison Square Garden

New York City is poised to host UFC 322 this Saturday, featuring a highly anticipated welterweight championship clash between reigning titleholder Jack Della Maddalena and the formidable Islam Makhachev, who makes his divisional debut. The event, held at the iconic Madison Square Garden, will see Della Maddalena defend the belt he claimed earlier this year, while Makhachev aims to extend an impressive 15-bout winning streak and capture a second UFC championship in a different weight class. The main card is scheduled to commence at 10 p.m. ET, following early preliminaries at 6 p.m. ET and preliminary bouts at 8 p.m. ET.

The betting landscape for the main event at UFC 322 positions Islam Makhachev as the favorite, with current odds at -298 (requiring a $298 wager to win $100) at DraftKings Sportsbook. Champion Jack Della Maddalena enters the contest as the underdog at +240. In the evening’s co-main event, women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is favored at -148 as she prepares to face challenger Zhang Weili, listed at +124. These odds reflect the perceived strengths and recent performances of the athletes as fight night approaches.

Jack Della Maddalena, 29, brings a professional record of 18 wins and 2 losses into his first welterweight title defense. His journey to the championship has been marked by a significant resurgence after losing his initial two professional bouts in 2016. Since then, Della Maddalena has remained undefeated, showcasing a potent striking arsenal that has earned him 12 victories by knockout, complemented by two submissions and four decisions. His path to the UFC included a unanimous decision win over Ange Loosa at Dana White’s Contender Series 39 in September 2021, which secured his contract.

Upon joining the UFC, Della Maddalena quickly established himself as a force in the welterweight division. He made a memorable debut at UFC 270 in January 2022, securing a TKO victory over Pete Rodriguez. His rapid ascent culminated at UFC 315 this past May, where he defeated Belal Muhammad via first-round TKO (punches) to claim the UFC welterweight championship. This victory underscored his reputation as a dangerous finisher and a rising star. His accomplishments in 2022 were widely recognized, earning him ESPN’s UFC Men’s Rookie of the Year, Cageside Press’ Co-Newcomer of the Year alongside Jailton Almeida, and UFC.com’s Newcomer of the Year. Della Maddalena has also collected six post-fight bonuses during his UFC tenure, consisting of four Performance of the Night awards and two Fight of the Night honors. He currently holds the No. 8 spot in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, a testament to his impact across the promotion.

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Challenging for the welterweight title is Islam Makhachev, 34, a former UFC lightweight champion with an exceptional professional record of 27 wins and 1 loss. Makhachev initiated his career in August 2010, achieving 12 consecutive victories before his UFC debut in May 2015, where he defeated Leo Kuntz by submission at UFC 187. His sole professional defeat occurred later that year against Adriano Martins, but since then, Makhachev has embarked on a remarkable 15-bout winning streak, establishing himself as one of the most dominant figures in the sport.

Makhachev’s fighting style is heavily rooted in Sambo and wrestling, with a formidable ground game reflected in his 13 submission victories. He also possesses five knockout wins and nine decision victories, demonstrating a well-rounded skillset. As the former UFC lightweight champion, Makhachev successfully defended his title on four occasions, a record for the division. His championship reign included notable victories over Charles Oliveira, and two wins against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, and most recently, a decisive submission win over Dustin Poirier. His consistent performance and unblemished record since 2015 have tied him with Kamaru Usman for the second-longest win streak in UFC history at 15 consecutive victories. Makhachev’s decision to move up to the welterweight division marks a significant challenge as he seeks to become a two-division champion, testing his grappling and striking against larger opponents. He has also earned six post-fight bonuses, with three Fight of the Night and three Performance of the Night awards.

The co-main event features another championship contest, as Valentina Shevchenko defends her women’s flyweight title against Zhang Weili. Shevchenko, known for her technical striking and robust ground game, has long been a dominant force in the division. Weili, a former two-time UFC strawweight champion, brings her powerful striking and aggressive style to the flyweight division, promising a high-stakes encounter between two of the sport’s elite female athletes.

Beyond the championship bouts, UFC 322 presents a compelling main card. Sean Brady, known for his grappling prowess, is set to face Michael Morales, an undefeated striking specialist, in a welterweight contest. The card also features Leon Edwards, listed at +140, against Carlos Prates (-166) in another welterweight clash. Additionally, a lightweight showdown pits Beniel Dariush (+160) against Benoit Saint-Denis (-192), a bout expected to deliver high-octane action given both fighters’ aggressive approaches.

For those engaging in sports wagering, respected MMA analyst Daniel Vithlani has provided insights into the UFC 322 card. Vithlani, who has demonstrated a consistent winning record since his UFC betting debut in January 2023, is noted for his analytical approach and has accumulated over $1,500 in profits on his UFC main-card picks. His past successes include accurately predicting an upset victory for Sean O’Malley (+210) against Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292, as well as underdog selections on Dustin Poirier (+190) and Michael Page (+110) at UFC 299.

Among Vithlani’s specific recommendations for UFC 322 is a backing for Chepe Mariscal (-102) to secure a minor upset victory over Pat Sabatini (-118) in a featherweight preliminary card matchup. Vithlani highlights Mariscal’s 5-0 UFC record and his aggressive, high-pace fighting style. He emphasizes Mariscal’s ability to utilize pressure and grittiness to wear down opponents, noting his dangerous volume striking and his proficient grappling and scrambling abilities as key advantages. Vithlani acknowledges Sabatini’s expertise as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, with 13 of his 19 professional wins coming via submission. However, he projects that Mariscal’s robust takedown defense (73%) and proven ability to return to his feet will neutralize Sabatini’s ground game, forcing the fight to remain standing where Mariscal’s relentless offensive will likely overwhelm his opponent.

Various sportsbooks are offering incentives for new users ahead of UFC 322. DraftKings is currently providing new users with an opportunity to receive $300 in bonus bets if their initial wager wins, alongside a three-month subscription to NBA League Pass. FanDuel also has a promotional offer where new users can instantly receive $300 in bonus bets if their initial $5 bet is successful. Additionally, Underdog Fantasy is extending an offer of $100 in site credits for new users who play $5 with a specific promo code in select states. These promotions aim to attract new participants to the burgeoning sports betting market surrounding major UFC events. Further detailed analysis and specific predictions for all main card bouts at UFC 322, including the championship showdown between Della Maddalena and Makhachev, are accessible through expert platforms.

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