Overview

• Dana White confirmed Jack Della Maddalena will defend the welterweight title against Islam Makhachev on Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden, with Makhachev moving up after vacating lightweight gold.
• Opening odds hovered around -265 for Makhachev versus +225 for Della Maddalena, a spread Daniel Cormier called too wide as he forecast bettors would gravitate toward the champ.
• Coach Ben Vickers says Makhachev will hunt takedowns early with influence from Khabib Nurmagomedov, and he argues Islam’s chin is less durable than Belal Muhammad’s.
• Della Maddalena owns a 69% UFC takedown-defense rate but surrendered attempts to Belal Muhammad and was taken down multiple times by Gilbert Burns before winning by late TKO.
• Grappling ace Craig Jones is credited with tailoring anti-wrestling tactics—used with Alexander Volkanovski—that observers like Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady say could narrow the stylistic gap.