Ali Akbar Rosady
Madison Square Garden in New York City is set to host UFC 322 on Saturday, featuring a highly anticipated welterweight championship bout between current titleholder Jack Della Maddalena and the formidable Islam Makhachev. Della Maddalena secured the welterweight strap in his last outing, defeating Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May. Makhachev, making a significant move up a weight class, enters the contest riding an impressive 15-bout winning streak. 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.
Main Event Focus: Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev
The headlining act pits two of the sport’s most dominant forces against each other. Islam Makhachev is positioned as the favorite, with DraftKings Sportsbook listing him at -298, requiring a $298 wager to yield a $100 profit. Champion Jack Della Maddalena enters as the underdog at +240. This matchup presents a clash of styles and a test of Makhachev’s ability to translate his lightweight dominance to the welterweight division.
Jack Della Maddalena, 29, has demonstrated remarkable resilience and striking prowess since turning professional in March 2016. Despite an initial setback with two consecutive losses at the start of his career, he has remained undefeated since, compiling an 18-2 professional record. His path to the UFC included a unanimous decision victory over Ange Loosa in Dana White’s Contender Series 39 in September 2021. Upon joining the UFC roster, Della Maddalena made an immediate impact, securing a TKO victory over Pete Rodriguez in his debut at UFC 270 in January 2022. Of his 18 professional wins, 12 have come by knockout, two by submission, and four by decision, highlighting his versatile finishing capabilities.
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Della Maddalena’s rapid ascent has garnered significant recognition within the MMA community. He was honored as ESPN’s 2022 UFC Men’s Rookie of the Year and shared the 2022 Co-Newcomer of the Year award with Jailton Almeida by Cageside Press. UFC.com also recognized him as their 2022 Newcomer of the Year. His exciting fighting style has earned him four Performance of the Night bonuses and two Fight of the Night honors. Currently, he holds the No. 8 spot in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, underscoring his standing as one of the sport’s elite competitors.
Islam Makhachev, 34, boasts an equally impressive career, having turned professional in August 2010. He began his career with a stellar 12-bout winning streak, which included his UFC debut in May 2015, where he defeated Leo Kuntz via submission at UFC 187. His sole professional loss occurred later that year, a knockout defeat to Adriano Martins. Since then, Makhachev has embarked on an unparalleled run, amassing a 15-bout winning streak that has seen him dominate the lightweight division. His career record stands at 27-1, with five victories by knockout, 13 by submission, and nine by decision, showcasing his well-rounded skillset and particular expertise in grappling.
Makhachev’s tenure as UFC lightweight champion was marked by consistent excellence, successfully defending his title on four occasions. His decision to move up to the welterweight division for this championship opportunity represents a new chapter in his career and a significant challenge. Throughout his career, Makhachev has earned three Fight of the Night awards and three Performance of the Night bonuses. He holds the record for the most UFC lightweight title wins with five and the most consecutive UFC title defenses at four. His 15-fight winning streak places him in an elite category, tied with Kamaru Usman for the second-longest win streak in UFC history.
The stylistic matchup between Della Maddalena and Makhachev is a compelling narrative. Della Maddalena’s sharp, powerful striking and aggressive pressure will be tested against Makhachev’s relentless wrestling, superior ground control, and increasingly effective striking. Makhachev’s move to welterweight raises questions about his power and ability to impose his grappling against a larger, naturally stronger opponent like Della Maddalena. Conversely, Della Maddalena will need to defend against Makhachev’s takedowns and avoid being controlled on the mat, while capitalizing on any striking opportunities.
Co-Main Event: Shevchenko vs. Weili
The co-main event features another championship contest, as defending women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko faces Zhang Weili. Shevchenko, a dominant force in the flyweight division for years, enters as the -148 favorite, while Weili is listed at +124. This bout pits two of the most accomplished female fighters in the UFC against each other, with Shevchenko aiming to reassert her long-standing dominance and Weili seeking to capture a second divisional title.
Valentina Shevchenko, known as "Bullet," has been a formidable presence in the UFC women’s flyweight division, holding the championship for an extended period. Her striking, rooted in Muay Thai, is among the most precise and powerful in women’s MMA, complemented by strong grappling and defensive wrestling. She has successfully defended her title against numerous top contenders, establishing herself as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best.
Zhang Weili, "Magnum," is a former two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion known for her explosive power, aggressive striking, and relentless pace. Her ability to finish fights, both standing and on the ground, has made her a fan favorite. Weili’s move up to flyweight for this challenge represents a quest for multi-divisional glory, and her power could pose a significant threat to Shevchenko.
Additional Main Card Bouts
The UFC 322 main card also features several other intriguing matchups:
- In a welterweight clash, Sean Brady (-142) takes on Michael Morales (+120). Brady, known for his grappling and suffocating pressure, will look to continue his ascent against the undefeated Morales, a powerful striker.
- A lightweight bout pits Leon Edwards (+140) against Carlos Prates (-166). This fight will offer both competitors an opportunity to climb the competitive lightweight rankings.
- Beneil Dariush (+160) is scheduled to face Benoit Saint-Denis (-192) in another lightweight encounter. Dariush, a veteran with a deep grappling pedigree, will contend with Saint-Denis’s aggressive, high-pressure style.
Expert Betting Insights from Daniel Vithlani
For those interested in making informed betting decisions, SportsLine expert Daniel Vithlani has provided detailed analysis and picks for UFC 322. Vithlani has established a strong track record since his debut in January 2023, beginning with a 5-0 record for UFC 283 and accumulating over $1,500 in winnings on his UFC main-card picks. His notable predictions include calling the upset victory for Sean O’Malley (+210) against Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292, as part of a 4-1 main card performance. He also successfully backed underdog selections on Dustin Poirier (+190) against Benoit Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Page (+110) against Kevin Holland (-130) at UFC 299.
Among his specific UFC 322 predictions, Vithlani is backing Chepe Mariscal (-102) to secure an upset victory against Pat Sabatini (-118) in a featherweight preliminary card matchup. Vithlani noted, "Mariscal is now 5-0 in the UFC and hasn’t lost a fight since 2020. He is a scrappy fighter who welcomes a nasty affair. Mariscal uses his pace, pressure and grittiness to intimidate his opponents and wear on them. His volume-striking attack makes him dangerous, but it’s his ability to grapple and scramble that give him the edge in this matchup." He further elaborated on Mariscal’s defensive grappling: "Sabatini is a Ju-Jitsu ace, with 13 of his 19 pro wins coming by submission. He is a savvy grappler who can keep his opponents pinned to the mat. However, I have a hard time seeing him do that to Mariscal, who has never been submitted in his 18-6 pro career. Mariscal has a 73% takedown defense rate and has shown the ability to get up when taken down. If this fight plays out on the feet, Mariscal’s relentlessness will overwhelm Sabatini."
New users can capitalize on various promotional offers from leading sportsbooks. The DraftKings promo code offers $300 in bonus bets if a qualifying wager wins, plus three months of NBA League Pass. Additionally, the Underdog promo code provides $100 in site credits when playing $5 with the promo code CBSSPORTS2 in select states. For those utilizing FanDuel, new users can access the FanDuel promo code to receive $300 in bonus bets instantly if their initial $5 bet wins. Vithlani also anticipates another fighter on the card will secure a significant victory through a "constant barrage of strikes and takedowns," with his full analysis and picks available exclusively through SportsLine.
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