The wait for the UFC 322 main event is almost over for excited MMA fans across the globe. Jack Della Maddalena is set to defend his welterweight belt against Islam Makhachev.
A an exciting 5 round Main Event between 2 highly technical fighters. The excitement has almost reached its peak, many fans are curious to see if Islam will claim another belt.
Many Questions were answered at weigh ins yesterday. Fans saw Islam successfully weigh in at 170 lbs for the first time.
Actually looking better then normal, Islam’s frame matches the division. There will not be much of a size advantage for Jack tonight so only one question remains.
Will Islam’s Wrestling be enough to stop the high level Striking of Jack? Fans find out tonight so lets get right into some analysis of the 5 round Main Event!
All betting odds are presented by BetOnline.ag as of 11/15/2025 at 1 p.m.
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Main Event: Jack Della Maddalena (C) vs Islam Makhachev Analysis – Welterweight
Jack Della Maddalena Makes His First Title Defense Against Top Contender Islam Makhachev
The Wait is almost over for the highly anticipated super fight at UFC 322 for welterweight gold. Jack Della Maddalena will be making his first title defense against former light weight champion Islam Makhachev.
Islam Makhachev vacated the lightweight belt to attempt to become a 2 division champion. A big topic of conversation this week has been his size and frame at this division.
A contrast to the usual he looked great on the scales yesterday which I believe is a great explanation for the weight move. I do not believe he will be undersized in many match ups in this division, especially in this one against Maddalena.
Islam has been on an incredible run the past, extending his win streak to 15 in a row finishing 10 of those bouts. A win tonight would tie Anderson Silva’s legendary win streak record, another record in the books for Islam.
Since winning the light weight belt in 2022, he has 4 title defenses. Those bouts are some what scrutinized as 2 of them were over a featherweight, and 1 being over a very short notice opponent well below his skill level.
It is safe to say Islam’s move to welterweight is being a tad overshadowed. Some feel as if he still had work to do at light weight considering he only has 1 defense over an actual light weight contender.
Will Islam Prove He Can Hang’ At Welterweight?
Islam’s skills can not be denied in any argument. A very dangerous opponent, he has finished 8 of his last 10 bouts for an impressive 80% finish rate.
The versatility within his game has shined levels above his opponents. The ability to use his striking to keep his opponents at bay while also being able to wrestle & have top notch submission skills is incredibly rare in pro MMA.
Not only does he have all the skills & physical attributes to compete at the top, his team behind him have great game plans for him. Islam has very high fight IQ, and can make adjustments mid fight to secure the win.
I believe Islam may have to rely more on his hands in this fight. The size difference may not mean much, but if it does mean anything it should mean that Islam’s wrestling will not be as dominant at 170.
If this is a striking exchange I believe Islam will have to be entirely more cautious at 170. The ability to push his opponent against the cage could buy him time on the feet but ultimately may burn minutes in the fight.
Will Jack Make His First Title Defense Over A Worthy Foe?
Jack Securing WW Gold In A Close Decision Win In May
Jack Della Maddalena has been a very hyped prospect since joining the UFC. He has won 8 straight fights in the UFC, finally claiming WW gold in May with a decision win over Belal Muhammed.
In his run in the UFC, he has shown some of the best pocket boxing the sport of MMA has ever seen. The movement in and out of range creates a genuine puzzle for all of his opponents to figure out.
The angles he is able to create provide huge opportunities to land power punches. The movement in and out of the pocket makes his counter striking very dangerous, with his opponents often choosing not to strike with him.
The last Time UFC fans saw Jack in action was the first time he truly proved his take down defense. A top notch wrestler in Belal Muhammed was unable to secure take downs and was forced to strike with Jack for 5 rounds.
The question of his takedown defense came from some of his previous fights. In a bout with skilled Grappler Gilbert Burns, he was taken down almost at will & controlled for the first 2 rounds of the bout.
Will Jack Prove He Has Takedown Defense?
In the 3rd round he was able to defend a take down attempt and land a massive knee on Burns. This ultimately led to Jack securing the TKO, but fans did not forget it was a come back victory.
After the fight it came out that Jack had broken his arm in the 1st round, which could have led to the poor takedown defense. It actually may be entirely possible that until his fight with Belal Muhammed, he has been injured in some way his entire career.
I believe the version of Jack that showed up to fight Belal is the healthiest version we as fans have seen. I expect that same version of Jack to show up in this fight with Islam.
A healthy Jack could provide a greater obstacle for Islam to get the wrestling going. Jack is typically a more patient striker to begin with, so with the takedown defense I believe this could be a slower fight then fans are expecting.
I believe Islam will chase the takedowns due to not wanting to strike with Jack on the feet. If Jack can defend, he will get the fight he want & be able to dismantle Islam over the course of 5 Rounds but that is a tall task.
Main Event: Jack Della Maddalena (C) vs Islam Makhachev Prediction – Islam Makhachev Wins By Decision (+200) at Betonline
Main Event: Jack Della Maddalena (C) vs Islam Makhachev Best Bet – Over 3.5 Total Rounds (-130) at Betonline
UFC 322 Schedule & FAQ:
When is UFC 322?
- UFC 322 will take place Saturday, November 15th, 2025.
Where is UFC 322?
- UFC 322 will go down live at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.
What time does UFC 322 start?
- UFC 322 Early Preliminary Card Start time: 6 p.m. ET
- UFC 322 Preliminary Card start time: 8 p.m. ET
- UFC 322 Main Card start time: 10 p.m. ET
How to Watch UFC 322?
- UFC 322 Early Preliminary Card Coverage: ESPN & ESPN+
- UFC 322 Preliminary Card Coverage: ESPN & ESPN+
- UFC 322 Main Card Coverage: ESPN+
How to Bet on UFC 322?
- Most international and domestic sportsbooks will carry odds for a fight card of this caliber but click here for some sites and applications us bettors here at Betting News recommend for a great UFC betting experience.