Overview
- The UFC 322 main event is set for November 15 at Madison Square Garden, with Jack Della Maddalena defending the welterweight belt against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
- Makhachev detailed a three-stop preparation in Russia, Dubai and New Jersey focused on adding size and simulating JDM’s style, with fresh photos showing notable bulk and coach Javier Mendez calling it his best camp.
- Della Maddalena welcomes the narrative of sending Makhachev “back to lightweight,” enters as an underdog, and says he aims to keep the fight standing and finish him in New York.
- A victory would make Makhachev a two-division UFC champion and allow him to tie Anderson Silva’s record 16-fight UFC win streak, underscoring the legacy stakes of his move up.
- Side storylines include Chael Sonnen questioning Ilia Topuria’s rise above Makhachev in pound-for-pound lists, Makhachev saying he would follow Khabib Nurmagomedov’s guidance on retirement, and ruling out any future jump to middleweight.