UFC 322 Set for Madison Square Garden with Superfights

NEW YORK, NY — UFC 322 arrives at Madison Square Garden this Saturday, featuring two title fights that promise to thrill fans. The main event showcases welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena defending his title against former lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev. In the co-main event, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko faces former strawweight champion Zhang Weili, who is moving up a weight class.

Della Maddalena, a 29-year-old from Australia, puts his title on the line for the first time. He won the belt six months ago by defeating Belal Muhammad, showcasing his versatility and endurance in a grueling match. “I’ve been preparing my whole life for this moment,” Della Maddalena said. He comes into this fight on an 18-fight winning streak.

Makhachev, on the other hand, aims to become the 11th two-division champion in UFC history. Known for his grappling, the 34-year-old has not lost since 2015 and boasts a record of 27-1. He believes stepping up to welterweight will present new challenges, but he feels ready. “This is the fight I’ve been waiting for,” Makhachev stated.

The co-main event features two of the best female fighters in the sport. Shevchenko, 37, has been a dominant champion at flyweight, boasting a 10-1-1 record in title fights. Zhang, aged 36, looks to make an impact in her new division after her successful reign at 115 pounds. “I’m prepared for everything,” Zhang remarked, emphasizing her commitment to adapt her fighting style.

The main card also includes intriguing matchups in the welterweight division, such as Sean Brady against Michael Morales and Leon Edwards facing Carlos Prates, both of whom are looking to reestablish their positions as contenders. “Every fight is crucial right now,” Edwards said. “I need to prove I still belong at the top.”

Main card preliminaries kick off at 10 p.m. ET and are part of a packed lineup that fans won’t want to miss.