Dana White went to Instagram Live today at 7:00 to drop major fight announcements, and he did just that. White revealed to the UFC world that former lightweight champion and #1 pound-for-pound fighter Islam Makhachev will move to welterweight to take on current champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 on November 15th, among other huge fights that will be happening soon.
Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena
Maddalena is coming off a championship win against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 and has put the MMA world on notice with his superb boxing and great takedown defense. He has proven that he is the man that all welterweights need to fear. His first title defense will be against Islam Makhachev, who has been the pound-for-pound best fighter for the last three years. Makhachev recently vacated his lightweight championship and stated that he wants to move to welterweight, seeking a new challenge. With a win, he would become the 11th fighter in history to be a two-division champion and add to his already first ballot hall of fame career. Makhachev is one of the best all-around fighters the sport has ever seen, but many fans believe that Maddalena has the skillset to defeat one of the best fighters in MMA. This will be a super fight, and the world will be watching. Will Makhachev achieve GOAT status with a win, or will Maddalena dethrone the pound-for-pound king? All questions will be answered on November 15th at Madison Square Garden.
Zhang Weili vs Valentina Shevchenko
The UFC 322 co-main event will feature two of the greatest female fighters ever to grace the sport. Zhang Weili has vacated her strawweight title and will move up to the flyweight division to fight the champion, Valentina Shevchenko. These two are widely regarded as two of the greatest female fighters of all time. There are arguments to be made that either of them could be the GOAT of women’s MMA. Zhang has cleared out the strawweight division with ease and feels as if she has nothing left to accomplish in the division. Moving up to flyweight against someone as ferocious as Shevchenko will be her biggest test of her career. Another opportunity to join the illustrious two division champion roster. Shevchenko is in a similar boat. She has beaten everyone she could beat and needs new competition, and there is no better competition than Zhang. Another massive superfight in the women’s division. The winner could cement themselves as the GOAT of women’s MMA apart from Amanda Nunes. Two massive legacy defining fights will take place on November 15th and you will not want to miss it.
Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates
Carlos Prates already has a fight after his brutal spinning back elbow KO vs Geoff Neal at UFC 319. He is set to face former welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322. Prates is one of the premier prospects in the UFC and a member of the fan favorite fighting nerds. He has moved quickly up the ladder and is currently #8 in the welterweight rankings. He was making waves in the UFC with knockout after knockout before a minor setback loss against Ian Machado Garry. Since then, he delivered a potential KO of the year candidate in his last fight. He wants the welterweight goal but he has a tough opponent ahead of him. Leon Edwards is a former champion and is ranked #4 in the division. He is coming off of a loss to Sean Brady and feels the need to prove he is still on top. Both men have amazing striking and great technique which will likely be the story of the fight. A pure striking battle between the two is sure to take place and the the outcome will have large effects in the division.
Virna Jandiroba vs Mackenzie Dern
With the women’s strawweight title vacated, two of the best women in the division meet head to head for the belt. #1 ranked Virna Jandiroba will face #5 Mackenzie Dern for the second time in their careers for strawweight gold. This will be the co-main to Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane on October 25th in Abu Dhabi. Dern has proved that she is one of the best Jui Jitsu practitioners in the UFC and the most submissions in strawweight history. She has been seen as the next champion in strawweight for a while and she now has the chance to claim the belt. Jandiroba is no easy opponent however. She is on a 22-3 in her career and in a 5 fight win streak. She is a great grappler and has the skill to hang with Dern. This is fight will crown a new strawweight champion when all is said and done.
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Mario Bautista
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Mario Bautista will take place at UFC 321 and is a big fight in the bantamweight division. Nurmagomedov is coming off of a loss to the champion Merab Dvalishvili where many people believe he won the fight. That was his first loss of his career and he is looking to bounce back in a major way. Mario Bautista stands in his path however. Mario just defeated Bellator legend Patchy Mix in his last fight. He proved that he can contend in the division has set himself on a path towards the belt. This fight will be your typical grappler vs fighter and the winner will be in great position for a future title opportunity.
