Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena headlines UFC 322

Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will move up in weight in pursuit of two-division glory when he challenges UFC welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 322 on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Makhachev (27-1) won the lightweight title back in 2022 after defeating Charles Oliviera at UFC 280. He made four successful defenses of the title before vacating it last May to set his sights on becoming a champion in a second weight class.

Makhachev, who has not lost since 2015, gets his chance in a few months' time.

Della Maddalena (18-2), however, presents a formidable challenge. The Australian captured the welterweight crown last May by defeating Belal Muhammad, extending his own unbeaten run that dates back to 2016 after dropping his first two professional bouts.

The lightweight belt has since been won by former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, who himself became a two-division champ.

In the co-main event, women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili will move up to flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko for the 125-pound flyweight title.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News