On paper, UFC 322 is shaping up to be the deepest card of 2025 with two blockbuster matchups headlining the action.
The event features a welterweight championship bout between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev, plus a women’s flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili in the co-main event.
Della Maddalena became the organization’s new undisputed 170-pound champion in May when he defeated Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, while longtime 155-pound champion Makhachev vacated the lightweight title earlier this year in order to pursue a title in a second weight class.
Shevchenko is coming off her eighth career title defence when she defeated Manon Fiorot six months ago. Shevchenko is the top women’s 125-pound fighter in the UFC and the No. 1-ranked fighter on the UFC’s women’s pound-for-pound list, while two-time strawweight champ Zhang is the No. 2 pound-for-pound women’s fighter. Zhang has been ruling the 115-pound division for several years and, like Makhachev, vacated her title so she could move up to flyweight to challenge for a second belt.
Here’s what you need to know for a busy UFC 322 fight week:
When and where does it take place? UFC 322 goes down this Saturday, Nov. 15, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It will mark the organization’s ninth event at the famous venue since 2016. Sportsnet’s preliminary card coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT and the pay-per-view main card starts at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. The prelims will air on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+, with the main card available to purchase through Sportsnet+.
What do the odds say? Makhachev is favoured to become the new champion, according to odds at BetMGM. He is roughly a -275 favourite over Della Maddalena who’s listed as a +220 underdog several days ahead of the event. Shevchenko, meanwhile, is a slight favourite to defend her title. She sits at -140 compared to +115 for Zhang.
Who else is on the card? In addition to the anticipated main event, the main card features two additional pivotal matchups in the welterweight division. No. 2-ranked contender Sean Brady faces No. 8 Michael Morales in a grappler vs. striker style clash and former champion Leon Edwards looks to snap a two-fight losing streak when he takes on rising knockout artist Carlos Prates. Ranked lightweights Beneil Dariush and Benoit Saint Denis kick off the main card with Saint Denis looking to take Dariush’s spot in the top 10 in the 155-pound weight class.
The middleweight division is in the spotlight on the preliminary card with touted former collegiate wrestling star Bo Nickal facing multiple-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Rodolfo Vieira, and Roman Kopylov meeting Gregory Rodrigues in a potential Fight of the Night contender. Also, Erin Blanchfield and Tracy Cortez will aim to stay in the win column and move one step closer to a title shot in the women’s flyweight division.
Projected bout order for UFC 322 (subject to change):
MAIN CARD
— Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev
— Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili
— Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales
— Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates
— Beneil Dariush vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira
— Roman Kopylov vs. Gregory Rodrigues
— Erin Blanchfield vs. Tracy Cortez
— Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Cody Haddon
— Kyle Daukaus vs. Gerald Meerschaert
— Pat Sabatini vs. Chepe Mariscal
— Angela Hill vs. Fatima Kline
— Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Eric McConico
— Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Matheus Camilo
What is on the fight week schedule?
Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter and Arden Zwelling plus former UFC fighter Diana Belbita are on site in New York providing coverage throughout the week, so stay tuned to Sportsnet.ca for one-on-one fighter interviews and other video and written content.
Media Day, Nov. 12: Official media events begin Wednesday when participating athletes speak with gathered reporters.
Pre-fight press conference, Nov. 13: All 10 UFC 322 main card athletes will participate on Thursday from The Theater at MSG. The event is open to the public and will be available to stream live on Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
Official weigh-in, Nov. 14: The fighters will hit the scale on Friday morning where they will attempt to make weight. There will be a one-pound allowance for all non-title bouts, but Della Maddalena, Makhachev, Shevchenko and Zhang will not be afforded the extra pound. Della Maddalena and Makhachev must weigh no heavier than 170 pounds for their title fight to be made official, while Shevchenko and Zhang must weigh no heavier than 125 pounds.
Ceremonial weigh-in, Nov. 14: Later in the day on Friday, after the athletes have begun the rehydration process, the fighters will square off with their respective opponents at The Theater at MSG on the eve of UFC 322. This will be available to stream live on Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
The fights, Nov. 15: Live preliminary card coverage from Madison Square Garden will begin on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT with the pay-per-view main card set to start at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Post-fight press conferences, Nov. 15: Once the event has concluded, fans can stay tuned to Sportsnet+ to watch a selection of winning fighters and UFC president Dana White answer questions from gathered media.
from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet
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