Overview
- The ESPN+ pay-per-view main card starts Saturday at 10 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden, with prelims on ESPN platforms; Valentina Shevchenko defends the flyweight title against Zhang Weili in the co-main event.
- Bet365 lists Makhachev as a clear favorite to take the 170-pound belt, reflecting confidence in his championship résumé and ground control despite the move up in weight.
- At media day, Della Maddalena embraced the underdog role, said he expects to be taken down at times, and framed the fight as a “full mixed martial arts battle.”
- Predictions are split: Israel Adesanya publicly picked Della Maddalena by knockout, Khabib Nurmagomedov called the champion a very tough opponent, and Jon Anik upheld Makhachev as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1 while spotlighting JDM’s danger on the feet.
- Makhachev downplayed retirement talk and outlined ambitions to win a second title and defend it—targeting a defense tally that could surpass Kamaru Usman’s at welterweight.