Ali Akbar Rosady
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to deliver a monumental night of mixed martial arts action this Saturday as Jack Della Maddalena prepares to defend his welterweight championship against the formidable Islam Makhachev at UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev. The highly anticipated main event will headline a stacked card from the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, with the main card commencing at 10 p.m. ET, following the early preliminaries at 6 p.m. ET and the preliminary bouts at 8 p.m. ET.
Jack Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC), at 29 years old, captured the UFC welterweight championship in his last outing, defeating Belal Muhammad via a dominant unanimous decision at UFC 315 this past May. This victory marked the pinnacle of a rapid ascent for the Australian striker, who has proven to be one of the division’s most dangerous talents. Della Maddalena’s journey to the title has been remarkable; after losing his first two professional fights in 2016, he has remained undefeated, accumulating an impressive 18 consecutive victories. His career trajectory saw him earn a UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series 39 in September 2021, where he secured a unanimous decision over Ange Loosa. His UFC debut followed in January 2022 at UFC 270, where he stopped Pete Rodriguez with a first-round TKO, signaling his arrival as a force in the welterweight division.
Della Maddalena’s fighting style is characterized by precision striking, powerful combinations, and an aggressive, forward-moving approach. Of his 18 professional wins, 12 have come by knockout, showcasing his significant finishing ability. He has also secured two submission victories and four decisions, demonstrating a well-rounded skillset. His accolades include ESPN’s 2022 UFC Men’s Rookie of the Year and Cageside Press’ 2022 Co-Newcomer of the Year alongside Jailton Almeida. UFC.com also recognized him as their 2022 Newcomer of the Year. Furthermore, Della Maddalena has earned four Performance of the Night bonuses and two Fight of the Night honors, underscoring his exciting and impactful performances inside the octagon. He currently holds the No. 8 spot in the highly competitive UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, a testament to his elite status.
Challenging Della Maddalena for the welterweight strap is the 34-year-old Russian sensation, Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), who is making the momentous jump up a weight class. Makhachev enters this championship bout riding an astonishing 15-bout winning streak, a run that ties him with Kamaru Usman for the second-longest win streak in UFC history. A former UFC lightweight champion, Makhachev successfully defended his 155-pound title four times, establishing himself as one of the most dominant champions in recent memory. His five UFC lightweight title wins are the most in the division’s history, and his four consecutive title defenses also set a new record for the weight class.
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Makhachev’s professional career began in August 2010, and he quickly amassed 12 consecutive victories, including his UFC debut in May 2015 at UFC 187, where he submitted Leo Kuntz. His sole professional defeat came later that year against Adriano Martins, a loss he has since avenged with an unparalleled run of victories. Makhachev’s fighting style is rooted in his Dagestani wrestling background, a discipline that has seen him secure 13 submission victories and nine decision wins, alongside five knockouts. His grappling is considered amongst the best in the sport, with relentless pressure, superior positional control, and an arsenal of submissions. In recent years, Makhachev has also showcased significant improvements in his striking, making him an even more formidable opponent. Like Della Maddalena, Makhachev has been recognized for his performances, earning Fight of the Night honors three times and Performance of the Night three times.
The stylistic clash between Della Maddalena’s striking prowess and Makhachev’s grappling dominance presents an intriguing dynamic for the main event. Makhachev is currently listed as the favorite at -298 (requiring a $298 wager to win $100), reflecting the confidence in his championship pedigree and undefeated streak, despite moving up in weight. Della Maddalena, the reigning champion, is positioned as the underdog at +240 in the latest UFC 322 odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.
In the co-main event, another championship bout is scheduled as defending women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (26-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) faces off against former strawweight queen Zhang Weili (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC). Shevchenko, a long-reigning champion known for her technical striking and well-rounded game, is the favorite at -148. Zhang Weili, who previously held the strawweight title and is making her second appearance in the flyweight division, stands as the underdog at +124. This bout promises a high-level contest between two of the sport’s most skilled female athletes, with Weili looking to become a two-division champion and Shevchenko aiming to further solidify her legacy.
The main card also features several other compelling matchups. In the welterweight division, Sean Brady (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), an undefeated grappler, is favored at -142 against Michael Morales (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), who is an undefeated striker. This clash highlights a classic grappler vs. striker dynamic, with both fighters looking to establish themselves as future title contenders. Another welterweight encounter sees Leon Edwards (14-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC), not to be confused with the current welterweight champion, entering as the underdog at +140 against Carlos Prates (19-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who is favored at -166.
The lightweight division will also be showcased with a high-stakes bout between Beniel Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) and Benoit Saint-Denis (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC). Dariush, a perennial contender known for his grappling and power, is the underdog at +160, while the aggressive and high-pressure Saint-Denis is favored at -192. These fights are crucial for the landscape of their respective divisions, with winners moving closer to title contention.
Expert analysis for UFC 322 has been provided by SportsLine’s Daniel Vithlani, a highly analytical UFC bettor who has demonstrated consistent success since his debut in January 2023, beginning with a 5-0 record for UFC 283. Vithlani has accumulated over $1,500 on his UFC main-card sports betting picks, showcasing an ability to identify value and predict outcomes effectively. Notable past 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. His successful calls at UFC 299 included underdog selections on Dustin Poirier (+190) against Benoit Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Page (+110) against Kevin Holland (-130).
Among his detailed picks for UFC 322, Vithlani has identified an early preliminary card upset opportunity, backing Chepe Mariscal (-102) to defeat Pat Sabbatini (-118) in a featherweight 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 the stylistic clash, acknowledging Sabbatini’s prowess: "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."
UFC 322 is poised to be a landmark event, featuring two championship contests and a lineup of high-stakes matchups. The main event, in particular, represents a significant test for both fighters, with Della Maddalena aiming to cement his status as welterweight king and Makhachev seeking to claim a second UFC title and extend his historic winning streak.
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