Jack Della Maddalena makes the primary protection of his welterweight title towards former light-weight titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 on Saturday in New York.
A pair of title fights high the pay-per-view providing, with Zhang Weili shifting up from girls’s strawweight to girls’s flyweight to attempt to knock off champion Valentina Shevchenko within the co-main occasion.
Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA) is using an 18-fight profitable streak after capturing the title at UFC 315 in Could with a unanimous determination over Belal Muhammad. The 29-year-old Australian advised reporters Thursday afternoon he’s grateful for the chance to try to beat Makhachev (27-1 MMA), who’s ranked No. 2 by the UFC in its pound-for-pound scores.
“That is what I received into this sport for,” Della Maddalena mentioned concerning the battle. “Huge challenges. Huge moments. I am excited for the problem. I am wanting ahead to it. I am excited for this battle on Saturday. It is gonna be night time.”
Makhachev vacated his UFC light-weight title within the spring to maneuver up a weight class, however the former champion mentioned he’s being undervalued only for switching divisions.
“That is my dream, man,” the 34-year-old Russian mentioned. “I am very near my dream. All my skilled profession once I was light-weight champion, it is my dream to change into double champion. Two extra days.”
Somebody’s profitable streak will likely be snapped come battle night time, as Makhachev enters the battle having gained 15 in a row.
The co-headliner has its personal stakes hooked up. Each girls have immense respect for one another and count on one of the best from each other in a battle UFC CEO Dana White says will undoubtedly decide who’s the best feminine fighter of this technology.
“If you speak about a real tremendous battle, you will have two champions in two totally different weight courses,” White mentioned. “No. 1 vs. No. 2 pound-for-pound. It would not get any higher than that.”
Zhang (26-3 MMA) will likely be competing at Madison Sq. Backyard for the third time. The 35-year-old China native beat Carla Esparza there in November 2022 after dropping there to Rose Namajunas a 12 months earlier.
“I feel this time, I am going to (win),” Zhang mentioned. “And the brand new (champion).”
Shevchenko (25-4-1 MMA) expects one of many hardest fights of her profession.
“I feel it’ll be a fantastic battle,” the 37-year-old Kyrgyzstan native mentioned, “and I am undoubtedly going to place the whole lot I’ve into an enormous efficiency. All my expertise, velocity and energy. I am right here to defend my title.”
The primary-card bout order:
Important occasion — Jack Della Maddalena (c) vs. Islam Makhachev, UFC welterweight title
Co-main occasion — Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Zhang Weili, UFC flyweight title
Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales, welterweight
Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates, welterweight
Beneil Dariush vs. Benoit Saint Denis, light-weight
–Area Degree Media
