Makhachev vs Della Maddalena: UFC 322 fight card, start, odds, how to watch

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

Makhachev’s last UFC fight was in January when he defeated Renato Moicano by submission to successfully defend his lightweight title belt, which he first won in 2022.
Four months later, the Russian fighter vacated the lightweight title and boldly announced his decision to move up a weight class and challenge Australia’s Della Maddalena in one of the most eagerly awaited UFC fights on the 2025 calendar.

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

When does the UFC 322 fight start?
The Della Maddalena-Makhachev main event will be held on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The five-fight main card is scheduled to begin at 10pm (03:00 GMT on Sunday) with the ring walk for the Della Maddalena-Makhachev bout not expected before 11:30pm (04:30 GMT on Sunday).
The four-fight preliminary card begins at 8pm (01:00 GMT on Sunday).
Why did Makhachev switch from lightweight to welterweight?
Makhachev, a four-time defending lightweight champion, vacated the belt in May to move up to the welterweight classification.

The Russian told ESPN that it was difficult to cut weight for the 155lb (70kg) lightweight class and it affected his performance and recovery.

“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 said.

Della Maddalena vs Makhachev – a contrast in fighting styles
Della Maddalena is a disciple of Brazilian jujitsu and trains under the renowned Australian coach Ben Vickers. Not surprisingly, Della Maddalena excels at powerful yet accurate punching and kicking to the body and face. He is a lethal striker on the counterattack.

Vickers, in a recent interview with Fox Sports, insisted his charger will silence the many doubters who believe Makhachev and his trademark grappling-wrestling background will prove too much for the Australian.

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

“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 style – which has been honed under the tutelage of legendary ex-UFC competitor Khabib Nurmagomedov – is built on a world class wrestling and grappling foundation. He is also an underrated striker of opponents.

His superb ground-and-pound attack, which he asserts after gaining top control, wears down his opponents and frequently results in submissions.

Both fighters have agreed that if the bout occurs, then the much-hyped UFC event at the White House in June would be the ideal venue for staging what would be considered the biggest box office UFC contest since the memorable Nurmagomedov-Conor McGregor confrontation in 2018.

“I saw the [Charles Oliveira] fight; [Topuria,] he’s good,” Makhachev told 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?”