Could UFC 322 be the Fight Card of the year?
There is always something special when the UFC headlines at Madison Square Garden, and with five current/former champions on display this Sunday, UFC 322 promises just that.
Welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) defends the belt for the first time 6 months after obtaining it through a unanimous decision victory over Belal Muhammed. The champion aims to defend the belt on an 18-fight win streak, undefeated in the UFC and looks strong on his feet utilising his elite boxing ability and a very well rounded welterweight champion with a never say die attitude every time he steps into the octagon.
The Champion comes up against one of the all-time greats from the lightweight division. Islam Makhachev (27-1). The former champion moves up to welterweight after relinquishing his lightweight belt in the hope of becoming a double-division champion. He will be carrying extra weight in what is set to be a fast-paced title bout, will he be able to showcase that same level of relentless forward pressure and dominance that we are used to seeing from the former lightweight champ? JDM will certainly look to meet him in the middle and not shy away with his strong punching power and postion.
Who tires first, who makes the first mistake? This is not a fight you want to miss.
Bet: Jack Della Maddalena by KO/TKO or Islam Makhachev by Submission @2.02
The co-main event of the evening sees former strawweight champion Zhang Weili (26-2) move up to flyweight to fight for the title against veteran flyweight champion Valentina ‘The Bullet’ Shevchenko (25-4).
The Bullet is coming in on back-to-back wins over Grasso and Fiorot and is looking in career-best form again. The bullet will have the reach advantage as the better striker in this matchup, with more UFC experience. She has adapted in the later stage of her career, slowing down, picking her strikes, and executing the ground game while still out-striking her opponents. Valentina will be able to utilise this reach advantage to snipe at range.
Zhang Weili is a former champ and enters the division off the back of 5 impressive wins over her contenders in strawweight, and is more than capable of pushing Shevchenko to her limits over the 5 rounds.
The question mark is how she adapts moving up a division with increased size as a very strong strawweight already, she should certainly pack a punch moving up and carries a lot of momentum into this title fight. With the reach disadvantage, we might see her wanting to close the distance with clinch work and mitigate the advantage of The Bullets’ jabs.
Another scintillating fight for UFC 322, but we may see a lot of control time being used as the way to victory.
Bet: Shevchenko By Points @2.75
Rank no.2 Sean Brady (18-1) enters the octagon on the back of a submission win over former champion Leon Edwards and a three-fight win streak. He is a wrestling and grappling specialist with 6 wins via submission. His only loss in the UFC was to former champion Belal Muhammed via TKO in the second round.
26-year-old Rank no. 8 Michael Morales (18-0), undefeated and on a 6-fight win streak in the UFC, is a knockout expert with 13 wins via KO/TKO. Both very exciting fighters, if Michael can utilise his Judo and make hard work for Sean Brady’s takedowns, his explosive damage could seal the win, but this will be his toughest test yet against the rank no.2. We will get to see how just how good his defence is against Sean. Looking at UFC maths, if Belal can get the TKO win over Sean, so can Michael. This guy is exciting.
Bet: Sean Brady by Submission or Michael Morales by KO/TKO @ 2.65
Value: Michael Morales by KO/TKO @4.50
A stand ‘n bang matchup is on the cards with two elite strikers of the welterweight division throwing down at Madison Square Garden.
Former champion Leon Edwards will be looking to find his form against his first striker opponent in quite some time, after back-to-back losses to grappling/ wrestling opponents. Carlos Prates is lethal on his feet with 17 wins via KO/TKO from his 24, and a 5-1 record in the UFC. Carlos was able to bounce back from his unanimous decision loss to Ian Machado Garry with yet another TKO win over Geoff Neal and will look to do the same against the former champ. Leon will be desperate to get back to winning ways and would be a massive confidence boost should he succeed this Sunday. Carlos looks to be the fighter with more energy and drive, with his lethal finishing and KO power, where Leon is more methodical and timelier in his approach.
The issue for Carlos is that Leon has never been knocked out, Carlos’ bread and butter. Leon may be struggling for form, but his impressive opponent roster is not to be ignored, something that rank no.9 Carlos is still building. Leon will either relish in this opportunity against a high ranked striker, or he may just be facing his first career loss by KO/TKO.
Bet: Leon Edwards by Points or Carlos Prates by KO/TKO @ 1.67
Value: Leon Edwards by Points @3.75
Ben vs Ben.
23-6 Dariush comes in off an impressive win over Renato Moicano via unanimous decision, prior to back-to-back losses via TKO against Tsarukyan and Oliveria back in 2023.
15-3 BSD enters the octagon on a 2-fight win streak after suffering a defeat by TKO to Moicano (doctor stoppage, eye injury). He has an impressive finishing record with 11 via submission and 4 via KO/TKO from his 15 fights. He has never won by decision. Strong grapple and takedown ability, but may not be able to out-grapple the likes of Dariush, who has a strong base and is very good on the ground, something that BSD has relied on in his past two victories.
Dariush, a veteran of the division with 10 wins via decision and 4 of his last 5 wins ending in such fashion and has only lost by submission once, back in 2016. This is a very interesting match-up for both fighters. If BSD wants to win here, he will have to get the finish if not, Dariush grinds out another win by decision.
Bet: Dariush by Points @5.00
Value: Benoit Saint-Denis KO/TKO Round 2 @7.00