Madison Square Garden Sets Stage for UFC 322's Championship Doubleheader

The UFC is gearing up for a massive November 15 showdown at Madison Square Garden in New York City with UFC 322. Two title contests headline this explosive pay-per-view event, featuring some of the organization’s most dominant competitors ready to cement their legacies on fighting’s biggest stages.

The Welterweight Championship Clash: Della Maddalena’s Crown Under Siege

Jack Della Maddalena enters the UFC 322 main event as the reigning welterweight champion, prepared to face a formidable challenger in Islam Makhachev. The Australian titleholder’s rise through the UFC ranks has been nothing short of remarkable.

Since joining the promotion in 2021 following his Dana White’s Contender Series appearance, Della Maddalena (18-2) built his reputation on explosive finishes. His first four UFC outings all ended via first-round stoppage, earning him three “Performance of the Night” bonuses. After weathering his first distance fight—a “Fight of the Night” split decision victory over Bassil Hafez—Della Maddalena captured the welterweight title in May 2025 with a unanimous decision triumph over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315.

The Australian’s path to championship gold showcases his technical versatility. His knockout victory over former title challenger Gilbert Burns in March 2024 proved he belonged among the elite. Over his eight-fight UFC tenure, Della Maddalena has accumulated six fight-night bonus awards, underscoring his ability to deliver entertainment.

Makhachev’s Lightweight-to-Welterweight Gambit

Islam Makhachev represents a unique challenge for Della Maddalena. The Russian (27-1) has reigned as the UFC lightweight champion and holds the record for most consecutive lightweight title defenses with four consecutive victories. His submission victories over elite competition—including Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 and Renato Moicano most recently—demonstrate his wrestling prowess and submission expertise.

Makhachev’s UFC tenure began in 2015 after compiling an 11-0 record elsewhere. Despite an early setback to Adriano Martins in his second UFC fight, Makhachev showcased championship-caliber resilience by rattling off 10 consecutive victories. He claimed the lightweight crown with a second-round submission against Charles Oliveira in 2022. His subsequent title defenses against Alexander Volkanovski—winning their first clash via decision and knockout in the rematch—solidified his status among the organization’s elite.

Flyweight Championship Drama: Shevchenko’s Kingdom

Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1) puts her flyweight title on the line in the co-main event against Zhang Weili. The Kyrgyzstan-born champion has constructed one of the most impressive résumés in women’s MMA history. Since dropping to 125 pounds in 2019, she captured the vacant flyweight title with a decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk and subsequently defended it seven consecutive times.

Following her losses to Alexa Grasso—including a September 2023 split draw—Shevchenko reclaimed her belt at UFC 306 in their trilogy matchup. In her most recent outing at UFC 315 in May, she successfully defended her title for the first time in her second reign, decisioning Manon Fiorot.

Shevchenko’s dominance in the flyweight division is reflected in her remarkable statistics: 11 wins, four knockout victories, a nine-fight winning streak, and 10 title fight victories. Her striking efficiency stands at 1.86 strikes absorbed per minute—among the best defensive records in women’s combat sports.

Zhang Weili’s Championship Ascent

Zhang Weili (26-3) makes the leap from strawweight to pursue the flyweight crown. The 36-year-old Chinese fighter boasts extensive championship experience at 115 pounds, capturing that title twice. Her first reign began in August 2019 with a first-round TKO over Jessica Andrade. After losing and regaining the title against Rose Namajunas, Zhang reclaimed the strap in November 2022 with a submission victory over Carla Esparza.

In her second strawweight championship run, Zhang successfully defended three times before vacating to pursue higher ambitions. Her recent victory over Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 in February 2025 demonstrated her readiness for this significant weight class transition.

The Complete UFC 322 Card Structure

Main Card (10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV):

• Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev (Welterweight Championship)
• Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili (Flyweight Championship)
• Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales
• Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates
• Beneil Dariush vs. Benoit Saint-Denis

Preliminary Card (8:00 p.m. ET on ESPNEWS):

• Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira
• Roman Kopylov vs. Gregory Rodrigues
• Erin Blanchfield vs. Tracy Cortez
• Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Cody Haddon

Early Prelims (6:00 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+):

• Kyle Daukaus vs. Gerald Meerschaert
• Angela Hill vs. Fatima Kline
• Susurkaev vs. Eric McConico

The early prelims feature Kyle Daukaus, who will square off against Gerald Meerschaert in what promises to be an engaging display of fighting prowess on the UFC’s biggest stage.

*Card subject to change

Madison Square Garden will showcase the UFC’s elite talent as two championship bouts anchor an event designed to deliver maximum impact in November 2025.