Overview
- Welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena defends his title against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev on Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden.
- Makhachev moves up to 170 pounds for his welterweight debut after vacating the 155-pound belt following four successful defenses.
- Della Maddalena outlines a plan to stand up from takedowns, inflict damage on the feet, and pursue a knockout finish at MSG, echoing his approach from the Belal Muhammad win.
- Oddsmakers list Makhachev around -250, with analysts noting his larger media presence and star power as factors influencing betting momentum.
- Predictions are divided as Michael Chandler, Randy Brown, and Kenny Florian lean toward Della Maddalena, while middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev publicly picks Makhachev to prevail with wrestling.