Jack Della Maddalena makes the primary protection of his welterweight title towards former light-weight titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 on Saturday in New York.
A pair of title fights prime the pay-per-view providing, with Zhang Weili shifting up from girls’s strawweight to girls’s flyweight to attempt to knock off champion Valentina Shevchenko within the co-main occasion.
Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA) is using an 18-fight profitable streak after capturing the title at UFC 315 in Might with a unanimous resolution over Belal Muhammad. The 29-year-old Australian instructed reporters Thursday afternoon he’s grateful for the chance to try to beat Makhachev (27-1 MMA), who’s ranked No. 2 by the UFC in its pound-for-pound rankings.
“That is what I obtained into this sport for,” Della Maddalena stated concerning the combat. “Large challenges. Large moments. I am excited for the problem. I am wanting ahead to it. I am excited for this combat on Saturday. It is gonna be night time.”
Makhachev vacated his UFC light-weight title within the spring to maneuver up a weight class, however the former champion stated he’s being undervalued only for switching divisions.
“That is my dream, man,” the 34-year-old Russian stated. “I am very near my dream. All my skilled profession once I was light-weight champion, it is my dream to grow to be double champion. Two extra days.”
Somebody’s profitable streak will probably be snapped come combat night time, as Makhachev enters the combat having gained 15 in a row.
The co-headliner has its personal stakes hooked up. Each girls have immense respect for one another and anticipate one of the best from each other in a combat UFC CEO Dana White says will undoubtedly decide who’s the best feminine fighter of this technology.
“Whenever you discuss a real tremendous combat, you’ve two champions in two completely different weight courses,” White stated. “No. 1 vs. No. 2 pound-for-pound. It does not get any higher than that.”
Zhang (26-3 MMA) will probably be competing at Madison Sq. Backyard for the third time. The 35-year-old China native beat Carla Esparza there in November 2022 after shedding there to Rose Namajunas a yr earlier.
“I feel this time, I will (win),” Zhang stated. “And the brand new (champion).”
Shevchenko (25-4-1 MMA) expects one of many hardest fights of her profession.
“I feel it’ll be an excellent combat,” the 37-year-old Kyrgyzstan native stated, “and I am positively going to place every little thing I’ve into an enormous efficiency. All my expertise, pace and energy. I am right here to defend my title.”
The primary-card bout order:
Most important occasion — Jack Della Maddalena (c) vs. Islam Makhachev, UFC welterweight title
Co-main occasion — Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Zhang Weili, UFC flyweight title
Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales, welterweight
Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates, welterweight
Beneil Dariush vs. Benoit Saint Denis, light-weight
–Area Degree Media