Madison Square Garden is about to host one of the most stacked UFC cards of the year. November 15 marks the promotion’s 12th visit to New York City and first since UFC 309 last year. The venue has produced some legendary moments in combat sports history, and UFC 322 promises to add more memorable chapters. Two championship fights headline the card with massive implications for multiple divisions.
The main card also features elite welterweights and top lightweight contenders battling for positioning. Every fight carries significant weight for the fighters involved and the divisions they represent. The buildup to this card has been stacking for months with storylines that captivate fans. Champions moving weight classes, contenders positioning for title shots, and rising prospects trying to break through; it’s all happening at MSG!
Let’s break down each main card bout, the buildup behind them, and what victory or defeat means for everyone involved in these crucial matchups.
This main event represents Islam Makhachev’s quest for two-division glory. The former lightweight champion vacated his 155-pound title specifically to move up and challenge for welterweight gold. Makhachev dominated lightweight for years with four successful title defenses before deciding bigger challenges awaited him.
Jack Della Maddalena shocked the world by upsetting Belal Muhammad to win the welterweight belt, and now he faces his toughest test. The buildup has featured both fighters expressing confidence, with Della Maddalena claiming Makhachev is too small for welterweight while Islam dismisses such talk as meaningless noise he’s heard before.
The implications are enormous for both men. If Makhachev (27-1) wins, he joins the exclusive club of two-division champions and cements his legacy as one of the all-time greats. A loss would be devastating for his legacy and raise questions about whether leaving lightweight was a mistake. For Della Maddalena, defending successfully proves his title win wasn’t a fluke and establishes him as the legitimate welterweight king. However, losing the belt in his first defense would validate critics who said he got lucky against Muhammad and wasn’t ready for elite grapplers.
The UFC 322 co-main event features another champion vs champion superfight. Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1) defends her flyweight title for the second time in her second reign against Zhang Weili, who vacated her strawweight championship to move up. Zhang won strawweight gold twice and cleaned out most of the division, leaving her seeking new challenges. Shevchenko has been the flyweight queen on and off for years and represents the ultimate test for Zhang’s move up in weight. The buildup has centered on whether Zhang’s power translates effectively against naturally bigger flyweights.
Victory for Shevchenko further solidifies her dominance over the flyweight division and potentially sets up other superfights. A loss would suggest her reign is ending as younger fighters surpass her. If Zhang wins, she becomes a two-division champion and opens exciting possibilities for her legacy. But defeat means she gave up her strawweight throne for nothing and would face an uncertain future stuck between divisions.
This welterweight bout features two rising contenders trying to break into title contention. Sean Brady has been grinding his way up the rankings with solid performances and sits just outside the top 5. Michael Morales represents the next generation of welterweight with dynamic striking and finishing ability. The buildup has been relatively quiet compared to the title fights, but both men understand a victory puts them in the conversation for bigger opportunities against the top 5.
For Brady, a victory at UFC 322 keeps his momentum going and proves he belongs among the division’s best. A loss would be crushing after working so hard to climb the rankings and might mean starting over. Morales can announce his arrival as a legitimate contender with a win, but defeat sends him back to fighting unranked opponents and delays his ascent.
Former champion Leon Edwards returns after losing his UFC welterweight title to Belal Muhammad and then losing to Sean Brady. He’s facing Carlos Prates, a dangerous Brazilian striker looking to make a statement against a big name. Edwards desperately needs this win to stay relevant in title discussions and prove he belongs at the top. Prates sees this as his chance to catapult into contention by beating a former champion on the biggest stage.
A victory for Edwards immediately puts him back in the mix for another title shot, especially if Della Maddalena wins the main event. But another loss would be devastating for the Englishman and might signal the end of his time as an elite welterweight. For Prates, upsetting Edwards launches him into the top 6 and earns him fights against ranked contenders. Losing to a former champion isn’t terrible, but it delays his breakthrough moment.
Two lightweight contenders collide at UFC 322 with both needing wins desperately to stay in title conversations. Beneil Dariush has been around the top of the division for years but can’t quite break through to a title shot. Benoit Saint-Denis (15-3-0-1 NC) brings violent finishing ability and French fighting spirit that’s made him a fan favorite. Both fighters know this could be their last chance to remain relevant in a stacked lightweight division.
For Dariush, victory proves he’s still elite despite his age, while defeat might signal it’s time to consider retirement. Saint-Denis needs this win to maintain his momentum after recent wins. A loss might drop him out of the rankings entirely and force him to rebuild from scratch.
(Image Credit: Craig Kidwell – Imagn Images)
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