UFC 322 features all the necessary factors to contend for fight card of the year: dominant champions, current and rising stars, and high-octane matchups. The fight card will take place at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday (10 p.m. ET on ESPN PPV, with prelims at 8 p.m. on ESPN+ and early prelims at 6 p.m. on ESPN+).
At the top of the card is a pair of matchups that ESPN ranked last month as the best remaining title fights on the UFC’s 2025 calendar. In the co-main event, ESPN’s Nos. 1- and 2-ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighters clash, as former strawweight champ Zhang Weili moves up to women’s flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko. After that, Jack Della Maddalena goes for his first welterweight title defense against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the main event.
Della Maddalena is ranked No. 8 in the ESPN men’s P4P rankings. Makhachev, ranked No. 2, vacated the lightweight title to square off with Della Maddalena.
ESPN MMA analysts and commentators provide their title fight predictions, and ESPN betting expert Ian Parker adds insight on the value bets available on the card.
Welterweight title fight
I’ve got to give Della Maddalena’s coach, Craig Jones, his due here. The strategies and tactics Jones has developed will show up in this fight. Della Maddalena has better striking than most of the competitors Makhachev has faced, and he will have success on the feet. The longer this fight goes, the worse it will look for Makhachev. It might get ugly. — Din Thomas
The size difference for Della Maddalena, coupled with the training from his coaches and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, will be too much for Makhachev to overcome. Makhachev won’t be able to hold him down for long. As the fight wears on, I can see Della Maddalena finding counterpunches against Makhachev’s striking. The champion could hurt Makhachev and put him away in the later rounds. — Alan Jouban
Betting analysis
Odds current as of Nov. 13. For more, see ESPN BET
Parker: Makhachev to win (-275); Over 1.5 rounds (-375). This is somewhat of a striker vs. grappler matchup, except Makhachev has exceptional striking, which makes his wrestling that much more of a threat. Look for Makhachev to close the distance with his striking to get the fight to the ground, and do his best to keep Della Maddalena there. If Makhachev can do that successfully, he will take away Della Maddalena’s striking. To get the price down on Makhachev, pair his moneyline with over 1.5 rounds.
Women’s flyweight title fight
It’s hard to say that Zhang will go out there and finish Shevchenko, but she’ll be one step ahead the whole time. Shevchenko is a good counter-fighter, but Zhang’s pressure will make it hard for her to have success there. Zhang will put pressure on her, wear her out and win every round convincingly. Shevchenko has done it all, and it’s difficult to keep getting up for these types of fights. — Din Thomas
Zhang will be Shevchenko’s toughest test yet, but Shevchenko’s wrestling will be the difference-maker. Historically, Zhang’s toughest matchups have come against fighters who can wrestle and control range. Shevchenko’s got the fight IQ, timing and physical strength to do just that. — Rashad Evans
Betting analysis
Parker: Zhang to win (+110). Although she is currently sitting as the betting underdog, I am taking Zhang. She can match Shevchenko everywhere the fight goes and even has the advantage in the wrestling and ground game. We saw Zhang outwrestle Tatiana Suarez, who is one of the best wrestlers on the UFC’s roster. I’m confident she can take down Shevchenko and keep her there.
Parker’s best bets on the rest of the card
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Michael Morales punishes Gilbert Burns with flurry of punches for main-event win
Michael Morales grabs the huge win in the main event of UFC Fight Night, beating veteran Gilbert Burns for the victory.
Welterweight: Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales
Morales to win (+115). This fight will be the ultimate litmus test for Morales. After beating Gilbert Burns at a UFC Fight Night in May, Morales is getting a big step up in competition. A win here can put him in the title conversation, but to do that, he must stop the takedowns of Brady. On the feet, Morales has the reach, power advantage and wrestling to stop Brady’s attempts to get the fight on the mat. Brady is no walk in the park, and after his dominant win over Leon Edwards at a UFC Fight Night in March, Morales has his work cut out for him. However, Morales’s takedown defense and range will be enough to get it done. Take the blue-chip prospect as the betting underdog.
Welterweight: Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates
Prates to win (-185). Prates’ moneyline might be my favorite play of the night. I don’t see how Edwards wins here. Prates’ pace and forward pressure will be too much for Edwards to handle. Edwards is notoriously a slow starter, and against Prates in a three-round fight, that’s a recipe for disaster. Unless Edwards knocks out Prates, he will get outstruck and possibly taken down.