UFC 322 is no longer a fight that fans are waiting for. It is a card that has already changed the welterweight division, and the story keeps moving. On November 15, 2025, Madison Square Garden hosted two world title fights, a knockout in the opening bout of the main card, and a main event that ended with Islam Makhachev wearing a second belt.
The final UFC 322 results, a head-to-head comparison of the two title fights, the victors’ post-fight outcomes, and how fans can watch UFC events today are all contained in this guide. If you landed here searching for rumors about a future date or venue, note that the event is finished. The useful questions now are what it proved and what comes next.
UFC 322 at a Glance: Date, Venue and Result Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
| Event | UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev |
| Date | Saturday, November 15, 2025 |
| Venue | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
| Main event | Islam Makhachev def. Jack Della Maddalena, unanimous decision (50-45 x3) |
| Co-main event | Valentina Shevchenko (c) def. Zhang Weili, unanimous decision (50-45 x3) |
| Original U.S. broadcast | ESPN+ pay-per-view, main card at 10:00 PM ET |
| Title result | New welterweight champion; flyweight champion retained |
The numbers on that scoreboard tell a clear story. Both championship fights finished with the same score on every judge’s card, which means neither result was close.
UFC 322 Results: Complete Fight Card Breakdown
UFC 322 Main Event: Makhachev vs Della Maddalena
Jack Della Maddalena entered as the welterweight champion on the first defense of a title he had held for roughly six months. Islam Makhachev had given up his lightweight belt earlier in the year, moved up fifteen pounds and asked for a shot at a second division.
The champion started aggressively on the feet. That plan lasted until Makhachev scored his first takedown and shut him down for the rest of the round. From there the fight followed a pattern that opponents of Makhachev know well: chain wrestling, heavy top pressure and constant submission threats.
The statistics from the fight show how lopsided it was. Makhachev outlanded his opponent by a wide margin on strikes, converted every one of his takedown attempts and spent more than nineteen minutes of the twenty-five-minute fight in control position. In round five he nearly locked up a choke, but Della Maddalena scrambled free to hear the final bell.
The win made Makhachev the eleventh fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes. It also pushed his winning streak to sixteen fights, tying the longest run the promotion has ever recorded.
UFC 322 Co-Main Event: Shevchenko vs Zhang
The second title fight asked whether Zhang Weili could add a flyweight belt to her strawweight reign. She had vacated her own title to chase the opportunity, and she arrived ranked first in the women’s pound-for-pound list, with Shevchenko right behind her at second.
Shevchenko answered by using her size. Across five rounds she controlled the pace, outmuscled the smaller challenger and collected 50-45 scores from all three judges. It was a second successful title defense for the flyweight champion and another reminder of how difficult her division is to crack.
Other UFC 322 Main Card Highlights
The main card also delivered moments worth remembering:
- Benoit Saint Denis vs Beneil Dariush: Saint Denis opened the main card with a knockout. A clubbing left hand in the clinch ended the fight within seconds of the first round.
- Michael Morales vs Sean Brady: Morales won this welterweight matchup, and the result kept him in the title conversation. That detail matters because his name returns in the latest updates below.
- Carlos Prates: The Brazilian striker also competed on the main card. He became far more important to the welterweight picture over the following months.
- Kopylov vs Rodrigues: Roman Kopylov and Gregory Rodrigues also met on the card in a matchup that fans had marked as a sleeper.
UFC 322 Fight-Week Change
The card needed one adjustment before fight night. Cody Haddon withdrew from his bout with Malcolm Wellmaker, and UFC newcomer Ethyn Ewing stepped in as his replacement. Short-notice swaps like this are normal, but they are a good reminder to check the official card on fight day.
UFC 322 Head-to-Head Comparison
Comparing fighters side by side makes it easier to understand why both title fights played out as they did. The tables below use details reported around the event.
UFC 322 Main Event: Makhachev vs Della Maddalena Head to Head
| Category | Islam Makhachev | Jack Della Maddalena |
| Home base | Dagestan, Russia | Australia |
| Title status entering | Former lightweight champion, challenger | Welterweight champion |
| Age | 34 | Defending champion |
| ESPN pound-for-pound rank | No. 2 | No. 8 |
| Win streak entering | 15 straight | 18 straight |
| Significant strikes landed | 123 | 31 |
| Takedowns | 4 of 4 | Not successful |
| Control time | 19+ minutes | Minimal |
| Result | Winner, 50-45 x3 | Lost title in first defense |
What the comparison shows: Della Maddalena brought a longer streak into the cage. Makhachev brought a style that neutralizes streaks. The gap in control time explains why a fighter with legitimate knockout power barely had room to use it.
UFC 322 Co-Main Event: Shevchenko vs Zhang Head to Head
| Category | Valentina Shevchenko | Zhang Weili |
| Record entering | 26-4-1 | 26-4 |
| Division | Flyweight champion | Former strawweight champion, moved up |
| ESPN women’s P4P rank | No. 2 | No. 1 |
| Size advantage | Bigger frame | Moved up in weight |
| Result | Winner, 50-45 x3 | Challenger fell short |
What the comparison shows: Moving up a division sounds simple on paper. In practice, the larger fighter’s strength shows up in the clinch and in every scramble, which is exactly how this fight was decided.
UFC 322 Head to Head: Which Title Fight Was More Dominant?
Both bouts ended with identical 50-45 scorecards, but the paths were different. Makhachev won through relentless takedowns and positional control. Shevchenko won through physical strength and steady pressure. If you want the better example of a wrestling blueprint, watch the main event. If you want the better example of a size advantage, watch the co-main.
UFC 322 Latest Updates (October 2026)
The aftermath of UFC 322 has been busy. Here is where things stand as of late October 2026.
Makhachev Defends the Welterweight Title at UFC 330
After capturing the belt, Makhachev stayed out of the cage for roughly nine months. He turned down a January 2026 offer and said he preferred to return after Ramadan, and his manager later pointed to a hand injury as the reason for a July target. His first welterweight defense finally came at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on August 15, 2026, against top contender Ian Machado Garry.
Makhachev won by unanimous decision, with reported scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. The result gave him a record seventeenth straight victory and moved him past Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in UFC history. Reports from the fight also described a damaging second-round head kick and heavy top control throughout the twenty-five minutes.
Who Fights Makhachev Next?
Two names dominate the discussion: Carlos Prates and Michael Morales. Both were involved in the UFC 322 card, which gives the event an even longer shadow. Morales was the official backup for the UFC 330 main event, while Prates has been more active and built a winning run that includes a knockout of Della Maddalena.
Makhachev has said he wants to return before the end of 2026 or in January 2027 at the latest. His coach has hinted at a December booking, and a main event at UFC 335 in Las Vegas has been floated as one possible landing spot. The promotion has not confirmed an opponent, so treat all of this as speculation until an official announcement.
What Happened to Jack Della Maddalena?
The former champion needed time to recover from the beating he took in New York. He later lost to Carlos Prates, which made his road back to a title shot harder. A fighter who once carried an eighteen-fight winning streak now has to rebuild inside a division that has changed quickly.
UFC 322 Impact on Zhang Weili and Shevchenko
Zhang’s failed attempt to become a two-division champion did not end her place at the top of women’s MMA. Shevchenko, meanwhile, left New York with a second successful defense and kept her position as one of the central figures of the women’s flyweight class. Both fighters remain important names to track as the women’s divisions continue to shuffle.
How to Watch UFC 322 and Future UFC Events
Broadcast rules have changed since this card took place, which is the part of older articles that most often leaves readers confused.
How UFC 322 Aired in 2025
When the event happened, U.S. fans needed an ESPN+ subscription plus a separate pay-per-view purchase. The usual price for a numbered card was $79.99. The schedule looked like this:
| Portion of the card | Start time (ET) | Where it aired |
| Early prelims | 6:00 PM | UFC Fight Pass |
| Prelims | 8:00 PM | ESPNEWS and ESPN+ |
| Main card | 10:00 PM | ESPN+ pay-per-view |
How to Watch UFC Events Now: Paramount+ Replaces Pay-Per-View
From January 2026, the UFC moved to Paramount+ in the United States under a long-term exclusive deal. The practical change for fans is large:
- Numbered events and Fight Nights stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
- There is no separate pay-per-view charge.
- The Essential plan (with ads) costs $8.99 per month, and the Premium plan (ad-free) costs $13.99 per month, according to published pricing.
- Select numbered events are also simulcast on CBS.
In Australia, the arrangement is different. The main card of numbered events stays on pay-per-view through Main Event on Foxtel and Kayo, while prelims are on Paramount+ and Network Ten. Fans in other regions should check the official UFC site for their local broadcaster, because rights vary by country.
Can You Rewatch UFC 322?
The Paramount+ catalog includes past UFC numbered events from the 2020s, so a subscriber should be able to find the card on demand. Availability can vary by region, so confirm inside the app.
Why UFC 322 Mattered for the Welterweight Division
A Champion Who Redrew the Division
Before UFC 322, welterweight was a division where titles changed hands often. Makhachev’s arrival changed the conversation. He did not just win the belt, he beat a champion who had looked comfortable until the moment the fight hit the mat.
The effect showed up quickly. Contenders reshuffled, callouts followed, and the question changed from “who is the champion?” to “who can stop this style at 170 pounds?”
A Legacy Moment for Makhachev
Winning a second belt put Makhachev into a short list of two-division champions. Add the extended winning streak and a title defense at UFC 330, and the picture is clear: UFC 322 was the start of a new chapter, not a one-night event.
Lessons for Fans and Bettors
Fans who studied the main event learned something useful. Records and streaks matter less than matchups. A fighter with a long unbeaten run can still be shut down by a style that removes the tools he relies on. Anyone building predictions for future cards should weigh grappling control, takedown defense and cardio just as heavily as striking records.
Final Thoughts: The UFC 322 Verdict
UFC 322 delivered what the biggest cards promise. It had two title fights, a statement knockout, a changing division and a champion who made history in front of a Madison Square Garden crowd.
The story has not ended. Makhachev has defended his belt, a new contender is waiting and the UFC’s move to Paramount+ has made the sport easier to follow for new fans. Bookmark this page and check back, because the next chapter of the welterweight division is still being written.
