Islam Makhachev and Zhang Weili will both step up a division to challenge for championship glory in the main events of UFC 322, set for the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City on the morning of 16 November 2025.
Makhachev and Zhang are moving up from the lightweight and women’s strawweight divisions respectively, to take on belt-holders Jack Della Maddalena (welterweight) and Valentina Shevchenko (women’s flyweight).
In the main event, Della Maddalena (18-2) will make the first defence of the title he won by defeating Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision at UFC 315 in May, looking to add to his 18-match winning streak.
The 29-year-old Australian plans to finish his opponent in this championship match: “I’m going to go for it [stopping Makhachev]. Obviously, that would be the best-case scenario, get the finish.
"I can see it happening and I can see it blowing the roof off MSG. Taking out pound-for-pound No 1 with no doubts, a finish would be the dream.”
Makhachev (27-1) made four successful defences of the lightweight belt, most recently choking out Renato Moicano at UFC 311 in January, before vacating the title in June and setting his sights on the welterweight division.
The co-main event sees Shevchenko (25-4-1) looking to make a ninth successful defence of the women’s flyweight belt (across two reigns), having most recently claimed a unanimous decision win over Manon Fiorot at UFC 315 in May.
Shevchenko says she is not underestimating the challenge offered by her opponent: “I'm focusing on the most, the hardest challenge every time.
"If you're gonna be, 'Oh no, she's lighter, not enough power, I will be more powerful,' it's not the right approach. You have to think about the fight being the biggest challenge you're gonna face. It's the only right way. I'm expecting it's gonna be a challenge definitely.
"She's a great, amazing fighter with all skills, and I'll bring everything I have and even more to secure the victory and still be the champion.”
Zhang (26-3) is a two-time and former champion at strawweight, most recently making a fourth successful defence of the belt with a unanimous decision triumph over Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 in February.
The rest of the main card features two welterweight bangers, as Sean Brady takes on Michael Morales, and former division champion Leon Edwards faces Carlos Prates, as well as a lightweight clash pitting Beneil Dariush against Benoit Saint-Denis.
UFC 322: Della Maddalena v Makhachev – Main card
- Main event: Welterweight championship: Jack Della Maddalena v Islam Makhachev
- Co-main: Women’s flyweight championship: Valentina Shevchenko v Zhang Weili
- Welterweight: Sean Brady v Michael Morales
- Welterweight: Leon Edwards v Carlos Prates
- Lightweight: Beneil Dariush v Benoit Saint-Denis