Makhachev clashes with Della Maddalena in UFC 322 blockbuster – all to know – Bns Sections.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) famous person Islam Makhachev will take a shot at profitable his first title in the welterweight division when he takes on reigning champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.

Makhachev’s final UFC struggle was in January when he defeated Renato Moicano by submission to efficiently defend his light-weight title belt, which he first received in 2022.

Four months later, the Russian fighter vacated the light-weight title and boldly introduced his resolution to transfer up a weight class and problem Australia’s Della Maddalena in one of the eagerly awaited UFC fights on the 2025 calendar.

Here’s what you want to know about UFC 322:

When does the UFC 322 struggle begin?

• The Della Maddalena-Makhachev principal occasion will likely be held on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
• The 5-struggle principal card is scheduled to start at 10pm (03:00 GMT on Sunday) with the ring stroll for the Della Maddalena-Makhachev bout not anticipated earlier than 11:30pm (04:30 GMT on Sunday).

• The 4-struggle preliminary card begins at 8pm (01:00 GMT on Sunday).

Why did Makhachev swap from light-weight to welterweight?

Makhachev, a 4-time defending light-weight champion, vacated the belt in May to transfer up to the welterweight classification.

The Russian informed ESPN that it was tough to reduce weight for the 155lb (70kg) light-weight class and it affected his efficiency and restoration.

“My life changed when I changed the weight division. All my life, I had to think about what I eat. … Now I can eat whatever I want and smile.”

“At 155lb, it is so difficult. … Now, I am very excited to see how I feel in the cage,” he mentioned.

Della Maddalena vs Makhachev – a distinction in combating kinds

Della Maddalena is a disciple of Brazilian jujitsu and trains underneath the famend Australian coach Ben Vickers. Not surprisingly, Della Maddalena excels at highly effective but correct punching and kicking to the physique and face. He is a deadly striker on the counterattack.

Vickers, in a current interview with Fox Sports, insisted his charger will silence the numerous doubters who imagine Makhachev and his trademark grappling-wrestling background will show an excessive amount of for the Australian.

“He’ll just keep on turning up to beat whoever you put in front of him,” Vickers mentioned.

“He’s just taken Belal Muhammad’s streak. Next, he’ll take Islam’s streak. Then it will be [fellow welterweight contender] Shavkat Rakhmonov’s streak. He’ll take them all.”

Makhachev’s trademark type – which has been honed underneath the tutelage of legendary ex-UFC competitor Khabib Nurmagomedov – is constructed on a world class wrestling and grappling basis. He can also be an underrated striker of opponents.

His very good floor-and-pound assault, which he asserts after gaining prime management, wears down his opponents and steadily outcomes in submissions.

Della Maddalena-Makhachev: What are the betting odds?

Della Maddalena will begin as a heavy underdog in opposition to Makhachev with the bookmakers.

The odds have Makhachev marked because the -275 favorite at Bet MGM in the United States with Della Maddalena at +225.

Similarly, bookmakers outdoors the US have the Russian priced at $1.36 for the victory with Della Maddalena a protracted shot for the win at $3.25, in accordance to Bet365.

Will Donald Trump attend the struggle?

At this stage, it’s unknown whether or not US President Donald Trump will attend UFC 322 in the town the place he was born and spent most of his life.

Trump attended the final main UFC occasion in the world – UFC 316 – on June 7 in Newark, New Jersey, simply throughout the Hudson River from New York.

The 79-yr-previous’s affiliation with the UFC dates again to 2001 when he hosted two occasions in New Jersey.

If Makhachev beats Della Maddalena, will he struggle Topuria?

Ilia Topuria and Makhachev, ranked number one and quantity 2 on ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings, are extensively thought of the highest MMA fighters in the world, and Topuria has already mentioned he would transfer up one other weight class to face Makhachev on the 170lb (77kg) welterweight restrict if the Russian beats Della Maddalena.

Both fighters have agreed that if the bout happens, then the a lot-hyped UFC occasion on the White House in June can be the best venue for staging what can be thought of the largest field workplace UFC contest for the reason that memorable Nurmagomedov-Conor McGregor confrontation in 2018.

“I saw the [Charles Oliveira] fight; [Topuria,] he’s good,” Makhachev informed ESPN. “I have a good fight now, and I know [Topuria] is going to fight soon, and we’ll see what’s gonna happen. He wants to fight at the White House, and I also want to be there. I know the UFC wants to do some big fight in the White House. Which fight is going to be bigger than this?”

The UFC has not introduced any fights for the White House occasion though Trump has mentioned it might happen on June 14.

Who is Islam Makhachev?

• The 34-yr-previous fighter from the Dagestan area of Russia is without doubt one of the largest names in MMA thanks to his three-yr undefeated streak because the UFC light-weight champion.
• A protege and shut buddy of UFC legend Nurmagomedov, whose father, Abdulmanap, skilled each Dagestani males, Makhachev made his MMA debut in 2011 and signed his first contract with the UFC three years later.
• The southpaw is famend for his sturdy grappling expertise and a formidable hanging accuracy (59 p.c) with a attain of 70 inches (178cm). During his greater than decade-lengthy profession in the UFC, Makhachev has established himself as a legend in the light-weight division, having efficiently defended his belt on 4 events.
• Makhachev, who just lately vacated the UFC light-weight title to transfer up, is on an unbelievable run of 15 straight UFC wins courting again to October 3, 2015, when he misplaced the one skilled struggle of his MMA profession in opposition to Adriano Martins of Brazil.

Who is Jack Della Maddalena?

• Maddalena, additionally recognized by his initials JDM, is from Perth, Australia, and is a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu.
• He stands 5ft, 11 inches tall (1.8 metres) and his present combating weight is listed at 77kg (170lb).
• He is undefeated in 18 straight MMA fights courting again to May 28, 2016.
• The 29-yr-previous grew to become the brand new UFC welterweight champion at UFC 315 on May 10 when he upset Muhammad at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
• He will likely be making his first UFC title defence on Saturday in opposition to Makhachev.

What has Makhachev mentioned in regards to the struggle?

Saturday’s struggle will likely be Makhachev’s sixth title struggle in a row however first as a challenger. In an ESPN interview on October 27, the Russian broke down the Australian’s strengths and weaknesses.

“I watched all his fights. He is good. His striking is good. His boxing is very good, you know. His wrestling not so good but he is good on the ground. He know how to defend, how to escape, how to get up, you know. He has good skills on the ground also. … His striking is really good. That’s why he is one of the best in the world right now.”

On transferring up a weight class to struggle Della Maddalena:

“He is not like some guy who has crazy power. … I don’t think Jack has more than me.”

On Nurmagomedov’s pre-struggle message to him:

“It’s not a secret. He told me: ‘Take him down.’”

“I think I can finish him on the ground – choke him, do an arm bar or something. I saw his skills are good on the ground. They are good – but I have something more.”

What has Della Maddalena mentioned in regards to the struggle?

The welterweight champ claims his grappling proficiency in the octagon will shock Makhachev:

“Probably in his mind, he thinks he’ll take me down, immobilise me or even finish me. But I have enough level to surprise him on the ground: strength, technique and defences that we’ve been working on constantly. When he plays at his highest level, I’ll be able to destabilise him. The key is to stay calm. People underestimate how disconcerting it can be for someone to be serene and focused. I think a large part of the fight will be standing, and that’s where I can surprise him,” mentioned Della Maddalena on Mainevent TV.

Della Maddalena on Makhachev transferring up a weight class to struggle him:

“I think it’s good for him to move up. It was obviously a big wake-up for him. He is obviously getting bigger, growing. I think it’s a good move for him. I just think it’s bad timing,” he mentioned on the New York Post Sports podcast.

What’s Makhachev’s struggle file?

• Fights: 28
• Wins: 27
• Loss: 1
• Knockouts: 5 wins, 1 loss
• Submission: 13 wins
• Decision: 9 wins

What’s Della Maddalena’s struggle file?

• Fights: 20
• Wins: 18
• Losses: 2
• Knockouts: 12 wins, 1 loss
• Submission: 2 wins, 1 loss
• Decision: 4 wins

State Attack

• Makhachev – variety of days since his final defeat: 3,697 (October 3, 2015, to November 15)
• Della Maddalena – variety of days since his final defeat: 3,461 (May 28, 2016, to November 15)

Who is combating in the co-principal occasion at UFC 322?

In Saturday’s penultimate bout at UFC 322, ladies’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan will defend her title in opposition to China’s Zhang Weili in the co-principal occasion.

Zhang, a former strawweight titleholder, vacated her belt and moved up a division to struggle Shevchenko in what guarantees to be an enchanting contest between two of the largest feminine stars in the UFC.

What’s the total struggle card for UFC 322?

Main card (10pm begin | 03:00 GMT on Sunday):

• Della Maddalena (Australia) vs Makhachev (Russia) – title bout
• Shevchenko (Kyrgyzstan) vs Zhang (China) – title bout
• Sean Brady (US) vs Michael Morales (Ecuador) – welterweight
• Leon Edwards (United Kingdom) vs Carlos Prates (Brazil) – welterweight
• Beneil Dariush (US) vs Benoit Saint Denis (France) – light-weight

Preliminary card (8pm begin | 01:00 GMT on Sunday):

• Bo Nickal (US) vs Rodolfo Vieira (Brazil) – middleweight
• Roman Kopylov (Russia) vs Gregory Rodrigues (Brazil) – middleweight
• Erin Blanchfield (US) vs Tracy Cortez (US) – ladies’s flyweight
• Malcolm Wellmaker (US) vs Cody Haddon (Australia) – bantamweight

How to watch UFC 322

Al Jazeera Sport can have a reside construct-up and textual content commentary stream for the struggle from 01:00 GMT on Sunday.

UFC 322 is a pay-per-view occasion and will likely be proven by numerous on-line streaming companies, together with ESPN+ in the US, DAZN, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports.