Overview

• Della Maddalena will defend the welterweight title against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the UFC 322 main event on November 15 at Madison Square Garden.
• Robert Whittaker publicly tipped Della Maddalena, stressing that the champion’s jiu-jitsu and underrated grappling could blunt Makhachev’s wrestling.
• Makhachev posted camp footage in which he said, “November 16, I will rest,” signaling an all-business build toward his 170-pound title bid after vacating the 155-pound belt.
• Analysts including Steve Erceg and Luke Thomas pointed to the Dustin Poirier bout as a model for limiting Makhachev’s takedowns, with added attention on Della Maddalena’s extended work with Craig Jones.
• Oddsmakers still favor Makhachev, yet recent movement shows narrower lines as confidence in Della Maddalena’s chances grows.