Overview
- Jack Della Maddalena defends the welterweight title against Islam Makhachev on Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden in Makhachev’s first bout since vacating the lightweight crown.
- Makhachev detailed three distinct camps in Russia, Dubai and New Jersey focused on strength, sparring and tailored partners, with fight-week photos showing significant added mass.
- The pair staged their first New York City faceoff atop the Empire State Building as promotion ramps up for the main event and a co-headliner featuring Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili.
- Analyst Dustin Poirier says the matchup hinges on Della Maddalena’s takedown defense and scrambling against Makhachev’s wrestling, while the champion aims to keep the fight standing.
- Makhachev can become a two-division UFC champion and tie the promotion’s 16-fight win-streak record, as debates over pound-for-pound status continue and he publicly rules out a middleweight move.