UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Thursday that UFC 322 on Nov. 15 in New York will feature two major title fights, including Islam Makhachev’s bid to become a two-division champion, as reported by ESPN.
Makhachev (27-1), the former lightweight king, will challenge reigning welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) in the main event at Madison Square Garden. Makhachev vacated his 155-pound belt earlier this year to move up in weight after four successful defenses. Della Maddalena, unbeaten since 2016, captured the welterweight title in May with a decision win over Belal Muhammad.
In the co-main event, ex-strawweight champion Zhang Weili (26-3) steps up to flyweight to face longtime division ruler Valentina Shevchenko. Ranked No. 1 and No. 2 pound-for-pound among women by ESPN, Zhang and Shevchenko bring one of the most high-profile matchups in women’s MMA history. Zhang enters the fight after defending her title against Tatiana Suarez in February, while Shevchenko, 37, remains the most accomplished flyweight champion in UFC history with eight title defenses.
The card will also feature a welterweight clash between former champion Leon Edwards (22-5) and Brazilian contender Carlos Prates (22-7).
