Overview
- Jack Della Maddalena defends his belt against Islam Makhachev on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in the UFC 322 main event, airing on pay-per-view with coverage on ESPNews/Disney+/FX and ESPN+.
- Makhachev enters on a lengthy winning streak after vacating his lightweight title to move up to 170 pounds for a shot at a second divisional crown.
- Della Maddalena says he can neutralize takedowns for the full 25 minutes and vows to return the title to Australia after a tense press conference face-off that required separation.
- Makhachev told Daniel Cormier he expects to land takedowns at some point, while his earlier suggestion he could strike if wrestling stalls led Henry Cejudo to reconsider his pick.
- Bloody Elbow staffers largely pick Makhachev to win by submission or decision, citing his grappling edge while noting questions about cardio and size at a new weight.