UFC 322, set for November 15 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, may reshape divisions and pound-for-pound status in one night. In the main event, former lightweight king Islam Makhachev moves up to welterweight to challenge champion Jack Della Maddalena for a second belt. In the co-main, flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko defends against former strawweight champ Zhang Weili, a fight that could settle female MMA supremacy.Here are the best bets and predictions for the UFC 322 main and co-main events.
ALSO READ: One Win From Greatness – Islam Makhachev’s Shot at UFC History.
Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev
Only a handful of fighters in UFC history have captured championships in two weight classes, a level reserved for the sport’s rarest talents. Islam Makhachev is on the brink of joining that group. After a record-setting run at lightweight and four dominant title defences, he vacated the belt earlier this year to chase welterweight gold.
Jack Della Maddalena’s upset win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 opened the door for Makhachev’s move up. Now the champion and the former champion collide, two fighters on long, relentless winning streaks.
Della Maddalena’s rise is a story of self-belief. After losing his first two pro bouts, he’s rattled off 18 straight wins, including eight in the UFC. He’s one of the cleanest boxers in the division, a sharp finisher with 14 stoppages, and tough as nails, as seen when he knocked out Gilbert Burns despite fighting with a broken arm. His strong takedown defence against Muhammad gives him confidence heading into Makhachev’s world-class wrestling storm.
Makhachev, meanwhile, has tasted defeat only once since 2015. Fifteen straight wins, elite sambo credentials, crushing top control, and steadily improving striking have made him one of the sport’s most complete fighters. His finishes of Volkanovski, Poirier and Moicano underline the threat he carries everywhere.
Our prediction for this main event is Islam Makhachev to win and become the 10th UFC fighter to win belts in two divisions.
Prediction: Islam Makhachev to win at 1.34.
Best Bet: Fight to go the distance at 2.30.
Valentina Shevchenko vs Zhang Weili
The co-main event features the two best pound-for-pound women in MMA fighting for absolute supremacy. Zhang Weili (26-3) cleared out the strawweight division earlier this year with a dominant win over the undefeated Tatiana Suarez. Now she moves up in search of a second world title, a feat only Amanda Nunes has achieved among female fighters. Her explosive style, 11 knockouts, and dangerous grappling make her a threat wherever the fight goes.
Standing in her way is the greatest flyweight of all time. Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1) re-established control of the division in May by defeating Manon Fiorot. A 17-time Muay Thai world champion, “Bullet” remains one of the most precise, disciplined strikers in UFC history, with a highlight reel that includes her famous head-kick KO of Jessica Eye. Add seven submissions, and she’s one of the most complete fighters the sport has produced.
Both women have gone the distance in recent bouts, and their durability and championship IQ suggest another five-round technical battle. It’s a legacy fight, and one that could cement the next queen across two divisions.
Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko to win at 1.73.
Best Bet: Fight to go the distance at 1.46.
