The UFC 322 main event on November 15, 2025, at Madison Square Garden is already shaping up to be one of the most electrifying fights of the year. Current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena will defend his crown against former lightweight king Islam Makhachev, who is making a bold leap up in weight to chase history. It’s the classic MMA storyline of a dominant grappler colliding with an elite striker, a fight that could permanently reshape the UFC’s pound-for-pound hierarchy.

For Makhachev, this is no ordinary fight. After four successful lightweight title defenses and a 27-1 professional record, he vacated his belt to pursue a second championship, aiming to join the exclusive list of only ten fighters in UFC history who have held belts in two divisions. With signature wins over Alexander Volkanovski (twice), Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano, Makhachev is widely regarded as one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history. But at 170 pounds, he enters uncharted waters — and he’s doing it against one of the most dangerous strikers on the roster.

Jack Della Maddalena, meanwhile, is on a meteoric rise. The 28-year-old Australian captured the welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, a performance that earned “Fight of the Night” honors and showcased his elite boxing, body work, and takedown defense. Della Maddalena landed an astonishing 178 significant strikes, systematically dismantling Muhammad’s wrestling-heavy attack while extending his win streak to 18 straight fights. Now, with a growing reputation as one of the cleanest strikers in MMA, he welcomes the challenge of a former champion hungry for greatness.

Della Maddalena’s Bold Claim

While the fight is still weeks away, Jack Della Maddalena has already turned heads with his bold confidence regarding the outcome. In a recent interview, he made it clear that he doesn’t see Islam Makhachev as an unbeatable puzzle.

“I’m pretty confident I can get this one done,” Della Maddalena stated. “His wrestling is obviously high-level, but his striking doesn’t scare me. I’ve dealt with more dangerous stand-up than his. If I defend the takedowns, I can light him up.”

He even went as far as referencing Alexander Volkanovski’s close decision loss to Makhachev in Perth, where many fans believed Volk had done enough to win. “I think Volk beat him,” JDM said bluntly. “And I’m going to take him out.”

Those aren’t just casual words. They’re the statements of a champion who feels he’s at the peak of his powers, staring across the Octagon at a fighter who may be walking into his range — and into trouble.

Makhachev’s Legacy on the Line

For Islam Makhachev, UFC 322 is a legacy fight. Already widely respected as the heir to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s throne, the Dagestani champion has a chance to elevate his resume into all-time-great territory. A victory would make him a two-division champion, an accomplishment only achieved by the likes of Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, Georges St-Pierre, Amanda Nunes, and a few others.

But moving up in weight has historically been treacherous. Fighters who dominate in one division often find themselves undersized or outpowered in the next. Makhachev’s game is built around pressure, grappling control, and suffocating top positions. The question is whether he can impose that style on a naturally bigger, sharper striker like Jack Della Maddalena, who has been training to defend precisely the type of takedowns Makhachev brings.

Adding emotional fuel to the fire, Makhachev enters this fight with a personal angle. His longtime friend, Belal Muhammad, lost his title shot to JDM. Now, Makhachev has the opportunity to avenge that defeat indirectly by dethroning the man who took Muhammad’s dream away. The stakes aren’t just professional — they’re personal.

The Clash of Styles

What makes this matchup so compelling is the pure contrast of fighting philosophies. On one side, Makhachev represents the Dagestani blueprint: world-class sambo, relentless pressure, crushing top control, and opportunistic submissions. On the other side, Della Maddalena brings a pure striking clinic: tight boxing combinations, vicious body work, and an uncanny ability to make mid-fight adjustments.

Makhachev’s key to victory is no mystery. He must close distance, neutralize the jab, and create clinch or ground exchanges early. The longer the fight remains at boxing range, the more dangerous it becomes for him. JDM’s precise counters and ability to dig to the body could slow Makhachev’s pressure, turning a grappler’s march into a hesitant shuffle.

For JDM, the mission is equally clear. Stay off the fence. Control the center. Make every sprawl count. If he can stuff early takedowns and make Makhachev question his entries, the tide could turn fast. Welterweights punch harder than lightweights, and while Makhachev has a solid chin, he hasn’t been hit by someone with JDM’s volume and accuracy at this size.

Madison Square Garden: The Perfect Stage

UFC 322 takes place at the legendary Madison Square Garden, a venue that has hosted some of the most iconic fights in combat sports history. From Muhammad Ali to Georges St-Pierre, from Conor McGregor’s two-division coronation to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s emotional farewell fight week, MSG is where moments become immortal.

The UFC knows how to stack cards for New York, and this main event is exactly the kind of fight that fans, analysts, and even other fighters circle on their calendars. A reigning champion trying to hold his ground against a historically dominant former champ chasing legacy gold — it’s everything fight fans crave in a main event.

What’s at Stake Beyond the Belt

The implications of this fight go beyond just the 170-pound title. If Makhachev wins, he becomes the UFC’s 11th two-division champion, further cementing the dominance of Dagestani wrestling in modern MMA. It could set up superfights at either 155 or 170, potentially drawing in names like Leon Edwards or even a returning Khamzat Chimaev if schedules align.

If Della Maddalena wins, he doesn’t just defend his belt — he takes out one of the most respected pound-for-pound fighters alive. A victory over Makhachev would launch JDM into superstardom, possibly opening doors to box-office megafights and solidifying him as a must-watch champion for years to come.

Final Thoughts: A Collision Course with History

Both fighters bring momentum, skill, and supreme confidence into UFC 322. Makhachev has the pedigree of a champion who has proven he can dominate at the highest level. Della Maddalena has the freshness, hunger, and stylistic danger to threaten anyone in his division or the next.

When the cage door closes in New York, fans won’t just be watching a title fight. They’ll be witnessing a collision of eras — the grind-heavy dominance of a Dagestani lightweight legend against the crisp, punishing hands of the UFC’s newest welterweight king.

Will Islam Makhachev make history and claim a second belt? Or will Jack Della Maddalena’s prediction — “I am pretty confident I can get this one done” — become one of the defining statements of 2025?

We’ll find out under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden on November 15. One belt. Two streaks. No room for doubt.