Jack Della Maddalena makes the first defense of his welterweight title against former lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 on Saturday in New York.
A pair of title fights top the pay-per-view offering, with Zhang Weili moving up from women’s strawweight to women’s flyweight to try to knock off champion Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event.
Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA) is riding an 18-fight winning streak after capturing the title at UFC 315 in May with a unanimous decision over Belal Muhammad. The 29-year-old Australian told reporters Thursday afternoon he is grateful for the opportunity to attempt to beat Makhachev (27-1 MMA), who is ranked No. 2 by the UFC in its pound-for-pound ratings.
“This is what I got into this sport for,” Della Maddalena said about the fight. “Big challenges. Big moments. I’m excited for the challenge. I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited for this fight on Saturday. It’s gonna be a good night.”
Makhachev vacated his UFC lightweight title in the spring to move up a weight class, but the former champion said he is being undervalued just for switching divisions.
“This is my dream, man,” the 34-year-old Russian said. “I’m very close to my dream. All my professional career when I was lightweight champion, it’s my dream to become double champion. Two more days.”
Someone’s winning streak will be snapped come fight night, as Makhachev enters the fight having won 15 in a row.
The co-headliner has its own stakes attached. Both women have immense respect for each other and expect the best from one another in a fight UFC CEO Dana White says will undoubtedly determine who is the greatest female fighter of this generation.
“When you talk about a true super fight, you have two champions in two different weight classes,” White said. “No. 1 vs. No. 2 pound-for-pound. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Zhang (26-3 MMA) will be competing at Madison Square Garden for the third time. The 35-year-old China native beat Carla Esparza there in November 2022 after losing there to Rose Namajunas a year earlier.
“I think this time, I’ll (win),” Zhang said. “And the new (champion).”
Shevchenko (25-4-1 MMA) expects one of the hardest fights of her career.
“I think it’s going to be a great fight,” the 37-year-old Kyrgyzstan native said, “and I’m definitely going to put everything I have into a huge performance. All my experience, speed and power. I’m here to defend my title.”
The main-card bout order:
Main event — Jack Della Maddalena (c) vs. Islam Makhachev, UFC welterweight title
Co-main event — Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Zhang Weili, UFC flyweight title
Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales, welterweight
Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates, welterweight
Beneil Dariush vs. Benoit Saint Denis, lightweight
–Field Level Media
