Islam Makhachev faces Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 322. Learn about his fighting style, predictions, and why this title fight matters for MMA fans.
Islam Makhachev’s Historic Title Quest: What You Need to Know About UFC 322
Tomorrow night, November 16, 2025, one of mixed martial arts’ most dominant fighters steps into the octagon with a historic goal in mind. Islam Makhachev, the former UFC lightweight champion, will challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight crown at UFC 322, taking place at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City. This matchup represents far more than just another title fight—it’s a statement moment in combat sports where a generational talent attempts to join an elite group of fighters who have captured championships in multiple weight classes.
Who Is Islam Makhachev and Why Does He Matter?
For those unfamiliar with Islam Makhachev, understanding his credentials is essential to grasping the significance of tomorrow’s bout. Makhachev carries a professional mixed martial arts record of 27 wins and just one loss, establishing himself as one of the most consistent and dangerous competitors in the world. He has already achieved championship status at lightweight, a division that many combat sports analysts consider the most competitive weight class in professional MMA. Over his reign as lightweight champion, Makhachev successfully defended his title four consecutive times—an incredibly rare accomplishment in modern UFC competition. Each defense came against elite-level competitors who had previously proven themselves as world-class fighters.
The Dagestani fighter’s journey to championship gold began with his victorious bout against Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, where Makhachev captured the lightweight crown with a second-round submission. Since claiming the belt, he has proven his dominance against fighters like Alexander Volkanovski, a legendary competitor with credentials spanning multiple combat sports organizations. Makhachev’s most recent victory came in January 2025 when he finished Renato Moicano with a first-round submission at UFC 311—a dominant performance that showcased his relentless attacking style and technical proficiency on the ground.
The Dagestani Wrestling Blueprint
What makes Islam Makhachev such a formidable opponent isn’t based on a single skill. Instead, it’s his complete mastery of what combat sports experts call the “Dagestani grappling” blueprint. Trained at the American Kickboxing Academy alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev operates from a foundation of elite-level wrestling, Sambo fundamentals, and relentless pressure fighting. His approach prioritizes positional wrestling over flashy striking—he seeks to control opponents through superior mat control, suffocating pressure, and methodical submissions rather than trading punches on the feet.
Makhachev’s signature weapons include chain wrestling sequences, body-lock trips, and his famously executed arm-triangle submissions. When he takes opponents down, he maintains crushing top pressure that prevents escapes and forces mistakes. His striking has evolved significantly over his career, now featuring composed kickboxing elements including rear-side kicks and straight left counters. These striking techniques serve a strategic purpose: they create openings for his takedown entries rather than functioning as a standalone weapon. This calculated approach has resulted in 19 finishes across his 27 professional victories—an impressive finishing rate that demonstrates his effectiveness both on the ground and standing.
Jack Della Maddalena: The Defending Champion
Jack Della Maddalena presents a fundamentally different challenge than any opponent Makhachev has faced at lightweight. The Australian welterweight champion emerged from relative obscurity through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021 and has since compiled an undefeated UFC record of 8-0. Della Maddalena won his title in May 2025 by defeating Belal Muhammad through unanimous decision, establishing himself as a legitimate and complete fighter at 170 pounds.
Unlike many welterweights who develop their skills in traditional American gyms, Della Maddalena comes from an unknown Australian training facility. Yet despite this unconventional background, JDM has demonstrated striking prowess, grappling competency, and championship-level toughness. His striking is considerably sharper than most welterweights, featuring heavy hands and technical combinations that have earned him multiple “Performance of the Night” bonuses. Additionally, Della Maddalena showed improved takedown defense during his title-winning performance against Muhammad, suggesting he has specifically prepared for grappling-intensive matchups.
The Stylistic Clash at UFC 322
Tomorrow’s main event represents a classic stylistic collision in mixed martial arts. On one side stands Islam Makhachev, whose bread-and-butter strategy involves takedowns, ground control, and submissions. On the other side stands Jack Della Maddalena, a fighter who relies on striking superiority, power punches, and defensive wrestling. Expert predictions have become divided based on which fighter successfully imposes their game plan.
Several respected MMA analysts predict an upset, suggesting Della Maddalena’s size advantage—he naturally walks around considerably heavier than Makhachev—could prove decisive. The champion’s improved takedown defense, refined during his preparation for wrestling-heavy competition, might frustrate Makhachev’s takedown attempts. If Della Maddalena can keep the fight standing, his striking advantage could lead to a knockout finish or decisive striking battle. Notable fighters like Max Holloway have publicly predicted a Della Maddalena victory, citing the Australian’s size, his ability to stuff takedowns, and his heavy striking power.
However, the majority of combat sports professionals still favor Makhachev. His technical advantages in grappling, submissions, and positional control represent decades of wrestling evolution in Dagestan. His championship experience and proven ability to handle elite competition gives him an edge in high-pressure situations. Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s longtime coach and mentor, recently stated that his team trained for 11 grueling weeks in preparation for the welterweight bout. Nurmagomedov emphasized that while Della Maddalena deserves respect as a formidable champion, Makhachev’s consistency over the past five years—maintaining championship status while Della Maddalena was still rising through the ranks—gives him an advantage.
The Weight Class Transition Question
A critical factor surrounding UFC 322 involves Islam Makhachev’s successful transition to a new weight class. The former lightweight champion has never competed at welterweight before, despite expressing his desire to become a two-division champion for over three years. At 155 pounds, he dominated elite-level lightweights. At 170 pounds, he faces a physically larger opponent with different fighting styles than those he defeated at lightweight.
Khabib confirmed that Makhachev has been steadily gaining weight since early 2025, never exceeding 200 pounds during his camp but building muscle mass to better compete at welterweight. The 10-month layoff since his last fight in January could benefit Makhachev, allowing his body to acclimate to the new weight class while maintaining his explosiveness and cardiovascular conditioning. Some analysts worry that moving up in weight could slow his previously rapid takedown pace, but his team seems confident that their preparation has addressed these concerns.
Historical Context and Championship Legacy
Becoming a two-division champion in the UFC remains an exclusive achievement. Few fighters throughout MMA history have successfully captured world titles in multiple weight classes. Those who have accomplished this feat typically enter the conversation as all-time greats deserving of legendary status. Should Islam Makhachev defeat Jack Della Maddalena tomorrow night, he would join this rarified air and cement himself as one of the sport’s most accomplished fighters. This alone adds tremendous significance to tomorrow’s bout beyond the typical title fight implications.
Furthermore, Makhachev would become the latest in a proud tradition of Dagestani dominance in the UFC. His mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov captured the lightweight championship and successfully defended the belt multiple times. Other Dagestani fighters have also reached championship status, establishing the region as a powerhouse for combat sports talent. For Makhachev, victory represents continuing his homeland’s legendary legacy while personally achieving a goal that has motivated his career decisions for years.
What to Expect at Madison Square Garden
UFC 322 takes place at Madison Square Garden, one of the most prestigious sports venues in the world. The event will be broadcast live tomorrow evening, with the main card featuring two championship fights. Beyond Makhachev versus Della Maddalena, the co-main event will showcase Valentina Shevchenko, the reigning UFC flyweight champion, defending her title against Zhang Weili, a two-time strawweight champion moving up in weight.
Fans can expect an exciting evening of combat sports action, though the main event between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena will likely dominate discussions. If Makhachev’s wrestling proves too much for Della Maddalena’s defense, expect a submission victory. If Della Maddalena’s takedown defense and striking successfully frustrate Makhachev, expect a decision victory for the defending champion. Either way, tomorrow’s fight promises an intense strategic battle between two championship-caliber fighters operating at the highest level of professional MMA.
Final Thoughts on Islam Makhachev’s UFC 322 Title Shot
Islam Makhachev’s journey from Dagestan to UFC championship status represents one of modern MMA’s most impressive success stories. His dominance at lightweight, his proven ability against elite competition, and his calculated approach to mixed martial arts have established him as a legitimate threat to any fighter on earth. Tomorrow night at UFC 322, he gets his opportunity to reach new heights by capturing a second world championship belt.
Jack Della Maddalena deserves considerable respect as a champion who has earned his position through consistent victories and technical development. Yet the weight of history and Makhachev’s proven excellence suggest that tomorrow’s main event will likely result in a new welterweight champion being crowned at Madison Square Garden. Whether through dominant grappling control, superior striking, or a surprise upset, UFC 322 promises to deliver an unforgettable moment in combat sports history.
