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411’s UFC 322 Report: Makhachev Dominates Della Maddalena

November 16, 2025 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC 322 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
(c) Jack Della Maddalena (169.8 lbs.) vs. Islam Makhachev (170 lbs.) – for welterweight title
(c) Valentina Shevchenko (124.6 lbs.) vs. Zhang Weili (124.6 lbs.) – for women’s flyweight title
#2 Sean Brady (169.4 lbs.) vs. #8 Michael Morales (170.6 lbs.)
#4 Leon Edwards (170 lbs.) vs. #9 Carlos Prates (169.6 lbs.)
#9 Beneil Dariush (157.2 lbs.)* vs. #13 Benoit Saint Denis (155.6 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews/FX/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
Bo Nickal (185.8 lbs.) vs. Rodolfo Vieira (186 lbs.)
Roman Kopylov (185.2 lbs.) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (185.8 lbs.)
#4 Erin Blanchfield (125.8 lbs.) vs. #8 Tracy Cortez (125.6 lbs.)
Ethyn Ewing (145.2 lbs.) vs. Malcolm Wellmaker (143.6 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Kyle Daukaus (186 lbs.) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (185.6 lbs.)
Chepe Mariscal (145.6 lbs.) vs. Pat Sabatini (145.6 lbs.)
#12 Angela Hill (115.6 lbs.) vs. Fatima Kline (115.4 lbs.)
Eric McConico (185.6 lbs.) vs. Baisangur Susurkaev (185.2 lbs.)
Viacheslav Borshchev (155.8 lbs.) vs. Matheus Camilo (155.8 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 322, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host. We’ve made it to the penultimate PPV for the UFC for the immediate future and the UFC has given us a pretty darn good card on paper. We’ve got two title fights that feature challengers coming up in weight to try for two weight champ status, a couple of top shelf welterweight bouts, and even a couple of decent middleweight fights. With PPV looking to become a thing of the past next year the UFC seems like they’re trying to provide a couple of memorable ones to close out that era, also Dana White probably wants an argument in his back pocket for still holding one or two a year if the fight is big enough.

In the main event welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena is going for his first title defense against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Makhachev is the most successful lightweight champion in UFC history and if he wins he’ll not only become a two weight world champion but will also draw even with Anderson Silva for longest winning streak in UFC history at 16. In the co-main event women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko looks to defend her title against former strawweight champion Zhang Weili. Shevchenko is trying to tie Amanda Nunes for most successful title fights on the female side of things while Zhang is trying to become a two weight world champion. Beyond that we’ve got two really good welterweight fights with Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales and former champion Leon Edwards taking on Carlos Prates. The curtain jerker of Beneil Dariush taking on Benoint Saint Denis is pretty much a guaranteed action fight as well. The prelims have a few stand out fights as well, Roman Kopylov vs. Gregory Rodrigues being my personal favorite though Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira is good as is Pat Sabatini vs. Chepe Mariscal. So now let’s just hope the action lives up to the promise on paper.

UFC 322 comes to the world from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, USA. We’ve got the usual stateside PPV commentary trio of Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier, and Joe Rogan while Megan Olivi is our roving reporter with Bruce Buffer as the announcer. We do have the usual 30 foot cage and New York should have the newer rules in play but if not I’ll be sure to update everyone.

Viacheslav Borshchev is on a two fight losing streak and has gone 3-5-1 in the UFC, he really needs to get back on the winning side of things here. Matheus Camilo dropped his UFC debut back in October but he’s hoping his sophomore effort yields his first UFC win. The odds lean towards Camilo at -165 to Borshchev’s +140.

Lightweight Bout: Viacheslav Borshchev (8-6-1, 155.8 lbs.) vs. Matheus Camilo (9-3, 155.8 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Borshchev is an inch taller while Camilo has half an inch of reach advantage, Camilo is also 9 years younger. Both men probe a bit with the lead hand while circling. The crowd is “woo-ing” already, not a good sign. Left hook from Camilo lands. Camilo checks a calf kick. A little bit of stance switching from Borshchev now, Camilo lands a calf kick. Body kick from Borshchev. Camilo with another calf kick. They split jabs for a bit. Double leg from Camilo then he gets to the back as they stand. Camilo starts looking for mat returns, Borshchev gets chest to chest then they separate. Left to the body from Borshchev. Both men partially land rights. They both land punches in close. Another double leg from Camilo into butterfly guard. Some body to head punches from Camilo before Borshchev is able to force a reset on the feet and the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Borshchev but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Both men keep with the lead hand work as the round begins. Front kick from Borshchev. Borshchev with some punches into a clinch then they push free. Camilo with a right hand then a takedown against the fence. Some punches from Camilo and he gets the back with both hooks in. Camilo switches to full mount and looks to land elbows. A few more elbows, 12-6 style, from Camilo. Borshchev is able to get half guard. Camilo moves to the ride again as Borshchev gets to his knees. Borshchev wall walks but eats a knee before they break. A few sloppy blows are traded then Camilo hits a double leg and gets the ride again. Borshchev is able to stand and get free this time and they reset on the feet. A few more body blows from Borshchev. They trade in close again. Borshchev hits the body. Borshchev with a couple of lefts to the body. Left hand from Borshchev, that’ll pretty much end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Camilo but again could go either way, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Bit of a calf kick from Camilo. A few jabs go back and forth. Borshchev avoids a few hooks. Left to the body from Camilo. Borshchev keeps working the jab then Camilo lands a left hook and a calf kick. Right uppercut from Borshchev and he avoids a takedown. Some front kicks from Borshchev. Camilo looks pretty fatigued at this point. Borshchev with a calf kick. Left to the body from Borshchev then a calf kick of his own. Right hand then a left hook from Camilo land flush. Calf kicks go back and forth. They split a few jabs then Camilo hits a takedown into half guard. Camilo gets to the back but Borshchev rolls into him and gets on top in full guard. Borshchev stands free and Camilo gets up as well. Right hand from Camilo, then another one. One two from Camilo. Single leg from Camilo but Borshchev gets back up and they swing a few punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Borshchev, 29-28 Borshchev overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Mateusz Camilo via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)

Giving Camilo the third is a bit dubious but I’m not up in arms over it. No interview for Camilo.

Baisangur Susurkaev is undefeated including his UFC debut back in August, he’s trying to remain perfect and prove himself a rising prospect. Eric McConico has gone 1-1 in the UFC but he is coming off of a win and now looks for his first UFC winning streak. Susurkaev is a prohibitive favorite at -1200 while a McConico win would payout +750.

Middleweight Bout: Eric McConico (10-3-1, 185.6 lbs.) vs. Baisangur Susurkaev (10-0, 185.2 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Susurkaev has two inches of height and reach advantage and is 11 years younger. McConico pushes into a clinch right away. Both men show some knees to the leg as they jockey for position. Susurkaev gets McConico on the fence and has him a little bit pinned there while landing some knees. The ref could get involved here a little bit as not much is happening. They keep jockeying for position, eventually they separate. Right hand from Susurkaev. McConico fires a one two, he’s fighting southpaw. McConico pushes forward and lands an elbow into a clinch. Not much going on in the clinch, just positional switches and small knees from both men. Susurkaev hits a bit of a throw and gets to the back standing. Some mat returns from Susurkaev and a few knees to the thigh. McConico gets chest to chest again. Susurkaev misses a spinning elbow then McConico lands a left hand and they break. Body blow from Susurkaev then an inside leg kick. They trade punches that seem mostly blocked to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Susurkaev but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Left hand from McConico. Susurkaev lands a couple of inside leg kicks and body kicks. Right hand from Susurkaev. A couple of knees to the body from Susurkaev, McConico tries to fire back and kicks Susurkaev in the groin so we’ve got a time out. No doubt on that one, right between the legs from McConico. Susurkaev takes a little over a minute then we’re back to fighting. Body kick from Susurkaev. Susurkaev with an inside leg kick. Both men with lefts then Susurkaev lands a front kick. Front kick from Susurkaev then a right hand and they clinch up. Both men land punches and some knees in the clinch. Elbow from McConico then they break. Susurkaev lands a body kick and they clinch. McConico defends a single leg and they trade in the clinch again. Elbow from McConico. They break then Susurkaev lands a couple of rights. Front kick from Susurkaev again and they clinch up. Some knees go back and forth before they break. Susurkaev keeps showing right kicks then lands a body shot. McConico with a right hand then clinches up. They end the round in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Susurkaev, 20-18 Susurkaev overall

ROUND THREE: Both men poke out power hand punches to start the round. They both block high kicks. Front kick from Susurkaev. Right hand from Susurkaev, then another one. Body kick from Susurkaev. Susurkaev is switching his stance a bit now, mostly off of kicks to help him close distance. We get a time out, Susurkaev punched McConico in the groin. Both men are taking the breather but McConico is good after 42 seconds. Inside leg kick from Susurkaev. Susurkaev lands a body kick then a right hand. Hard right hand from Susurkaev gets McConico to face plant and we’re done here.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Baisangur Susurkaev via KO, punches, at 1:38 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Susurkaev for his work. Mic time for Susurkaev and the translator, he plays with the crowd a bit then says the fight was hard but his coaches helped him through it. Asked what he wants next he calls out Bo Nickal, or jokingly asks for a title fight.

Angela Hill has gone 3-3 in her last few fights and most recently lost to Iasmin Lucindo, now despite being 40 years old she’s trying to avoid another losing streak and defend her ranking. Fatima Kline has never lost at strawweight plus she’s bringing a two fight winning streak into this fight, if she can get a win she could crack into the rankings and make the difficult leap from prospect to contender. The odds are pretty heavily with Kline at -575 while that +425 comeback on Hill has to be a tempting value bet.

Strawweight Bout: #12 Angela Hill (18-15, 115.6 lbs.) vs. Fatima Kline (8-1, 115.4 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Kline is three inches taller, has two and a half inches of reach advantage, and is 15 years younger. Kline with a few jabs early then hits a takedown against the fence. Hill is able to close full guard. A few punches to the body and head from Kline. Hill is able to regain her feet but Kline is still clinching her on the fence. They jockey for position, Kline lands a knee. Bit of an uppercut from Kline as they break. Calf kick from Hill, Kline returns it. Bit of a right hand from Kline. Both women are showing a few stance switches but are mostly orthodox. Kline with a one two. Body kick from Kline. Front kick from Kline then a right hand. Hill with a right hand but she tries a spinning attack and Kline takes her down then drops elbows before Hill secures half guard. A few short elbows and hammer fists from Kline as Hill gets full guard. Kline keeps punching and passes to side control. Kline is pretty much in a mounted crucifix but Hill gets one arm out of danger. Now Kline attacks a kimura as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kline

ROUND TWO: Both women show body kicks to start the round. Kline with a combination of punches then a head kick. Hill shows a few kicks but she seems out matched. Left hand from Kline. Hill avoids a double leg but gets clinched on the fence. Elbow from Kline as they break. Both women land lefts. Bit of a right from Kline. They clinch again and hit the fence. Some knees go back and forth then they trade elbows as they break. Bit of a front kick from Kline then a knee in close. Hill lands a right hand. They tie up and trade a few more knees before breaking. Right hand then a body kick from Kline. Hill grabs a clinch but can’t keep it. Kline with some jabs. Left hand from Kline. Hill avoids a high kick then lands a front kick. Kline grabs a clinch and they hit the fence. They trade knees and elbows in close before separating. Front kick from Kline. Body kick from Kline. Both women with rights. Kline with a body kick. Bit of a right from Kline then they trade and clinch again. They’ll end the round in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kline, 20-18 Kline overall

ROUND THREE: Some jabs go back and forth again. Inside leg kick from Kline then a calf kick behind it. They trade power hand punches. They both land punches in close. Kline with a couple of rights. Jab from Kline. Counter right from Kline lands, that stuns Hill. Front kick from Kline towards the face. Hill lands a leg kick. Again Kline with a counter right. Jabs go back and forth, Kline then lands a combination. Left hook then a right hand from Kline. Hill is trying to get close and brawl but Kline is moving and sniping. Bit of a high kick from Kline. Hill grabs a clinch and pushes things to the fence. Inside trip from Kline and she’s on top in full guard. Some body to head punches from Kline. Hammer fists from Kline and she moves to the ride as Hill stands. They’re upright then Kline lands a hook as they break. Another clinch, Hill avoids a trip but Kline pushes her over and starts landing punches from the ride. More punches from Kline, she’s got the back now and just swings as they roll around on the mat. They stand and Kline lands a head kick just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kline, 30-27 Kline overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Fatima Kline via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)

Fire the judge who gave Hill a round, her best was the second and she still pretty clearly lost it. Mic time for Kline, a native New Yorker, and she says she’s a little disappointed in her performance and will get back to finishing people next. She puts over Hill then dedicates the win to Christ before playing with the crowd.

Chepe Mariscal is on an eight fight winning streak including five wins in the UFC, he’s trying to get another win here and then set his sights on ranked opponents. Pat Sabatini is on a two fight winning streak and is also trying to earn a step up in class next. Very close one here, -120 on Sabatini to an even +100 for Mariscal.

Featherweight Bout: Chepe Mariscal (18-6 1 NC, 145.6 lbs.) vs. Pat Sabatini (20-5, 145.6 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Sabatini has an inch of height and reach advantage. Sabatini circles a lot and both men show stance switches as they move around. Mariscal looks to pressure forward. Left hook from Sabatini. Mariscal misses a punch, Sabatini with a single leg and he gets on top. Mariscal to his knees and wall walks. Cheese donkey from Sabatini and he’s got the back now. Sabatini goes for a body triangle, he’s kind of on the side now though. Mariscal is trying to turn into Sabatini but can’t quite get all the way around yet. Sabatini keeps fishing for a choke while they’re just kind of hanging out. Mariscal is able to attack the hooks and then slip Sabatini over the top and Mariscal is now on top. Sabatini is half going for an armbar out of that transition, Mariscal gets it free then stands and they reset. Mariscal with pressure into a clinch and lands some body shots. Right hand from Mariscal as they break. Sabatini misses a spinning back fist and they trade in close. Mariscal lands a head kick then an elbow as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Mariscal as I think he stole it with that head kick which split open Sabatini

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the round. Mariscal gets back to moving forward and lands an inside leg kick. Sabatini tries a single leg, Mariscal defends and they hit the fence. Sabatini has the back standing and tries a mat return but Mariscal blocks that. Mariscal blocks a cheese donkey, Sabatini then hits a mat return and gets the backpack but can’t keep it. Sabatini is bleeding a lot from the forehead. Eventually Sabatini pushes Mariscal to the turtle. Mariscal scrambles but can’t quite get up yet. Hammer fist from Sabatini out of the ride. Mariscal does scramble up but Sabatini keeps wrestling him and gets on top again. Elbows from Mariscal from his back as Sabatini gets on top in full guard. Elbow from Sabatini. Sabatini gets the back briefly but Mariscal scrambles around and free. There’s a second cut on Sabatini, this one around the right eye. Elbow from Mariscal then a knee. They clash on kicks then punch into a clinch. Some punches are traded as they break. Sabatini gets to the back standing and pushes things to the fence again. Again Sabatini hits the cheese donkey and gets on top in half guard. The round ends with Sabatini on top.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Sabatini, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: That right eye of Sabatini is definitely messed up, there’s a cut on the lower eyelid as well. They touch gloves for the last round. Sabatini tries a single leg, Mariscal defends though. Bit of a left from Mariscal but Sabatini gets a takedown into full guard. Sabatini moves to half guard then into a ride. Mariscal blocks a second hook from going in but eventually Sabatini gets a body triangle. Some punches from Sabatini as he’s trying to open up a choke. They wind up rolling towards the fence. Sabatini moves towards mount and lands a few elbows. Sabatini moves to full mount briefly, Mariscal then scrambles a bit and gets up into a clinch. They both swing then Sabatini basically runs for the last couple of seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Sabatini, 29-28 Sabatini overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Pat Sabatini via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

No interview for Sabatini.

Gerald Meerschaert is on a three fight losing streak and really needs to get a win here to prove he’s still worth keeping around the roster. Kyle Daukaus is on a five fight winning streak including his return to the UFC back in August, he’s now looking for his first UFC winning streak. The odds like Daukaus at -500 to +380 for Meerschaert.

Middleweight Bout: Kyle Daukaus (16-4 1 NC, 186 lbs.) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (37-20, 185.6 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Daukaus is an inch taller while Meerschaert has an inch and a half of reach advantage. Both men fighting southpaw. Some circling from both men as they block a few punches. Right hand from Daukaus then a left drops Meerschaert. Meerschaert tries to wrestle up, Daukaus grabs a d’arce choke and after a bit that gets the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Kyle Daukaus via Submission, d’arce choke, at :50 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Daukaus for his work. Daukaus gets an interview after the win, he says he’s living the dream right now before putting over the gym he and his brother just opened. He talks us through the finish to close.

Malcolm Wellmaker is undefeated including two wins in the UFC, he’s looking for another one here to solidify his prospect status and then maybe start the difficult transition from prospect to contender. Ethyn Ewing took this fight on just a couple days notice, hence it being at featherweight when both men are normally bantamweights, but he’s on an eight fight winning streak and could make an impact in his UFC debut with a win. Wellmaker is a sizeable favorite at -485 to Ewing’s +370.

Featherweight Bout: Ethyn Ewing (8-2, 145.2 lbs.) vs. Malcolm Wellmaker (10-0, 143.6 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Wellmaker is three and a half inches taller with two inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Wellmaker. Ewing shows a head kick. Bit of a front kick from Wellmaker. Now Wellmaker starts stance switching but is still mostly southpaw. Inside calf kick from Ewing then a bit of a side kick. Body kick from Wellmaker. Right hook from Wellmaker staggers Ewing for a second. Another body kick from Wellmaker lands then they clinch. Both men with some knees then Ewing lands a right hand before they break. Leg kick from Ewing. Ewing avoids a left hand and lands a couple of punches in close. Both men land rights then clinch up. Elbow from Wellmaker then Ewing counters a throw and throws Wellmaker. They scramble up and Ewing is on the back. Wellmaker gets chest to chest and lands a couple of knees. Elbow from Ewing. Wellmaker lands another knee then they trade punches and separate. Body kick from Wellmaker. They trade rights then clinch. Ewing avoids a trip and grabs a front headlock then fires a couple of knees to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Wellmaker but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Bit of a high kick from Wellmaker. Ewing with a high kick of his own then lands a right hand. Left to the body from Wellmaker. Ewing with some jabs then a right hand in close. Left hook from Wellmaker. Calf kicks go back and forth then Wellmaker lands a right hand. Left to the body from Wellmaker then a right hook and they clinch up. Ewing punches out of the clinch. Wellmaker with a front kick. Ewing lands a right hand in close. Calf kick from Wellmaker then a left hook. Ewing lands a couple of punches then fires a head kick which partially lands. Wellmaker avoids a takedown but he’s cut around the right eyebrow. Jab from Wellmaker then a left hand. Ewing with some jabs in close as he circles out of the pocket. Knee from Wellmaker then a right hand. Ewing avoids a wheel kick. Elbow from Wellmaker then a left to the body. Ewing is a little bothered by something, probably the body work, and is circling a lot. They both land punches in close. Calf kick from Wellmaker. Ewing with more jabs then avoids a spinning back fist. They trade punches in close again, Ewing’s volume is doing work at this point. They tie up then break. Wellmaker with a right to the body then Ewing hits a takedown the lands a knee as they stand but Wellmaker cracks him with a spinning back elbow just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Wellmaker but again super close, 20-18 Wellmaker overall

ROUND THREE: Both men come out jabbing. Left uppercut from Wellmaker. Ewing with a jab. Wellmaker lands a calf kick. Left to the body from Wellmaker. Bit of a combination from Ewing. Wellmaker lands a body kick. Ewing with a left to the body. Right hand from Ewing. Wellmaker lands a few jabs. Ewing lands a left hook then a combination in close. Ewing moves to the back standing but Wellmaker gets chest to chest. Knee from Wellmaker. Ewing lands an elbow. Uppercut from Wellmaker then they separate. Ewing lands a right hand to counter a kick. Combination from Ewing then they clinch. Ewing avoids a takedown and lands an elbow in the clinch. Wellmaker with a left to the body then head as they break. Knee from Ewing then they trade punches. Wellmaker with a body kick. They clinch up and Ewing hits a knee tap to get on top. Ewing gets the back briefly but Wellmaker stands with Ewing on his back. Some punches from Ewing before they break and trade again in close as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ewing, 29-28 Wellmaker overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ethyn Ewing via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Mic time for Ewing, he mentions taking the fight on two days notice and is happy to make his UFC debut here and get a win over a guy like Wellmaker. He does the usual biographic stuff and wants to be home in time for his son to be born in December before hinting he’d like a post fight bonus.

Erin Blanchfield has gone 7-1 in the UFC and she’s coming off of a high profile win over former champion Rose Namajunas, she’s looking to stake her claim at a title shot with another win here. She did drop a split decision to Cortez back in 2019 in Invicta so getting a little payback is never a bad thing either. Tracy Cortez is coming off of a win but before that lost to the aforementioned Rose Namajunas, she’s looking for one of the higher profile wins of her career here. It’s not surprising to see Blanchfield as the favorite at -285 to a +230 comeback on Cortez.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: #4 Erin Blanchfield (13-2, 125.8 lbs.) vs. #8 Tracy Cortez (12-2, 125.6 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Cortez is an inch taller while Blanchfield has half an inch of reach advantage. Both women do some feinting early and show jabs. Inside calf kick from Blanchfield. Cortez lands a calf kick then a couple of punches. Bit of a right from Blanchfield. Both women land punches in close. Right hand from Blanchfield then Cortez lands a knee in close. Body kick from Blanchfield but Cortez lands a left hook in close. Cortez lands another right hand. Left hook from Cortez. Cortez with a knee then they trade rights. Another right from Cortez. Blanchfield punches in close but can’t do anything with the brief clinch. Left to the body then a right hand from Cortez. Jab then a left hook from Cortez. Both women miss punches then Cortez lands a knee. A few jabs go back and forth. Blanchfield lands a right hand to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Cortez

ROUND TWO: Both women land jabs to start the round. Right hand from Cortez. Cortez punches into a clinch then takes Blanchfield down. Blanchfield is trying to block a back take and gets on top in the ride. A few punches land for Blanchfield but Cortez wall walks quickly and gets chest to chest again. Blanchfield lands some lefts to the head, Cortez is cut around the right eyebrow. They break and Blanchfield lands a right hand. Both women land punches in boxing range. They trade front kicks then right hands. Blanchfield with a body kick. They tie up and Blanchfield hits a takedown into full guard. Some punches land for Blanchfield and she passes to half guard. Arm triangle attack from Blanchfield but Cortez is able to defend that. Cortez wall walks with Blanchfield on her back now. Blanchfield hits a double leg and lands punches, Cortez wall walks again but Blanchfield pulls her back down. Bit of a choke from Blanchfield, no hooks but she grabs the crucifix with her legs to get the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Erin Blanchfield via Submission, crucifix rear naked choke, at 4:44 of Round 2

Mic time for Blanchfield, she’s pretty happy and says she’d like to be in title consideration after this win. She talks us through the finish to close.

Roman Kopylov has gone 6-4 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a loss though when he dropped a decision to Paulo Costa and now he’s trying to avoid his first losing streak since his first two UFC bouts. Gregory Rodrigues is coming off of a win over Jack Hermansson, though he got finished by Jared Cannonier the fight before that. Rodrigues is looking for another win and to then get another shot at someone near the top of the division. Fairly close one here, -190 on Rodrigues while +160 for Kopylov has to be a tempting little wager.

Middleweight Bout: Roman Kopylov (14-4, 185.2 lbs.) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (17-6, 185.8 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Rodrigues is three inches taller while the reach is identical. Southpaw for Kopylov. A little forward pressure from Kopylov to start. Both men are just kind of looking for openings. Bit of a right from Rodrigues. Again bit of a right from Rodrigues. Bit of a body kick from Rodrigues. Bit of a calf kick from Kopylov. Rodrigues tries a takedown, Kopylov defends and they separate. Another body kick from Rodrigues. Bit of a right hook from Kopylov. Kopylov with a body kick. Rodrigues lands a bit of a right hand. They tie up, Kopylov with a hip throw and he gets on top briefly to land hammer fists. Rodrigues hangs out on his back until Kopylov makes him stand pretty much as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodrigues

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Both men land power hand punches. Again they trade power hand punches. Kopylov catches a kick and takes Rodrigues down, Rodrigues tries for a leg lock but Kopylov gets free and they reset. Rodrigues tries a takedown, that hits the fence though and Kopylov defends so they break. Knee from Rodrigues in close. Jab from Kopylov. Right hand from Rodrigues, Kopylov is leaking a little blood from around the right eyebrow. Jab from Kopylov. Kopylov catches a kick and lands a few rights. Both men hit the body. Rights to the body and head from Rodrigues. Kopylov lands a left to the body. Knee from Rodrigues then a right hand. Kopylov with a left to the body then a jab. Jab from Rodrigues, he’s really got Kopylov out of sorts. Kopylov lands a right hook but his power doesn’t seem to bother Rodrigues. Rodrigues lands a right hand. Both men land in close but Rodrigues seems to have more firepower. Head kick from Kopylov partially lands. Rodrigues pushes into a clinch and that’s where the round will end.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodrigues, 20-18 Rodrigues overall

ROUND THREE: Both men work the lead hand a bit as the last round starts. Jab from Rodrigues. Left hand from Kopylov wobbles Rodrigues but Rodrigues recovers quickly and fires back. Kopylov fights off a single leg. Bit of a one two from Rodrigues. Left to the body from Kopylov. Both men land punches in an exchange. Another left to the body from Kopylov. Bit of a left from Kopylov but he needs a finish, just the round wont do it. Rodrigues hits the body a few times. Jab from Kopylov. Kopylov with a left hand. Body kick from Rodrigues. Left hook from Rodrigues in close. Kopylov looks to jab into range, he fires a head kick that’s blocked. Kopylov presses forward and fires a combination that partially lands but he wont find a finish before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kopylov, 29-28 Rodrigues overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Gregory Rodrigues via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)

No interview for Rodrigues.

Bo Nickal was a very decorated collegiate wrestler and has gone 4-1 in the UFC, he is coming off of a loss though and now he’s trying to rebound while avoiding his first losing streak. Rodolfo Vieira is one of the finest jiu-jitsu practitioners of his generation, he’s gone 6-3 in the UFC and 3-2 in his last five bouts. Vieira is looking for a fairly notable win here that could get him a shot at a ranked opponent next. The odds like Nickal at -245 to Vieira’s +200.

Middleweight Bout: Bo Nickal (7-1, 185.8 lbs.) vs. Rodolfo Vieira (11-3, 186 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Nickal is an inch taller with three inches of reach advantage, he’s also 7 years younger. Southpaw for Nickal. Both men probe with the lead hand a bit as they circle. Bit of a body kick from Nickal. Left hand from Nickal then a big mat return. Punches from Nickal as Vieira gets to the fence with one hand down, that’s legal so Nickal knees him in the head a few times. Elbow from Nickal as he’s got the back standing. Vieira gets chest to chest and spins Nickal into the fence. A few knees from Vieira land. They break without incident. Bit of a left from Nickal. Vieira ducks under a head kick and tries a takedown but Nickal grabs a standing guillotine then rides things down to get on top position. Nickal bails on the choke but keeps the back as Vieira stands. A couple elbows land for Nickal as they break. Both men fall a little short with kicks, Vieira is cut around the left eyebrow now. Nickal with a left hand. Bit of a right from Vieira. Front kick from Nickal. Front kick from Vieira now. Nickal with a left hand then an inside leg kick. They circle away the final seconds of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nickal

ROUND TWO: Vieira lands a right hand to start the round. Left hand from Nickal. Nickal with a body kick. Left hand from Nickal stuns Vieira for a second so he follows up with punches. A few side kicks to the knee from Nickal. Right hand from Nickal. Nickal with a left to the body. Jabs from Nickal land. Vieira’s face is kind of busted up at this point. Counter one two from Nickal. Another jab from Nickal. Left to the body from Nickal. Vieira tries a takedown, that hits the fence though and stalls out. Vieira keeps looking for takedowns but Nickal slips free. Another left hand from Nickal. A few more jabs from Nickal. They trade body blows then Nickal stuns Vieira with a left hand. Nickal looks to follow up but can’t quite find the target before Vieira recovers. Vieira tries a single leg, Nickal easily sprawls away and grabs a front headlock. Nickal moves to a ride and lands punches then a knee as they stand which ends the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nickal, 20-18 Nickal overall

ROUND THREE: Nickal with a side kick to the knee. Vieira lands a right hand. Left to the body from Nickal. Another left hand from Nickal. Bit of an inside leg kick from Nickal. Nickal with a left to the body then a jab. Nickal partially tries a knee tap but bails and Vieira stumbles anyway but remains upright. Bit of a one two from Nickal then a head kick ENDS Vieira.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Bo Nickal via KO, head kick, at 2:24 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Nickal for his work. Nickal gets an interview, he says the game is all about bouncing back after a loss and he loves this game but can’t wait to get back to his family. He asks the fans to figure out if they want to boo or cheer him but just make up their minds. To close he says he believes in himself more now that he’s overcome a loss than after his wins, he’s dedicated his life to combat sports of various stripes and he loves fighting.

Well that’s it for prelims, onto PPV for the main card.

Beneil Dariush has been with the UFC since 2014 and has been a respected member of the division for pretty much all that time. Dariush is just 1-2 in his last three fights but those losses came to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan while he’s coming off of a win over Renato Moicano. Dariush did miss weight here, his first time doing so since 2020, but he needs a win to help smooth that over and prove he’s still got some upward momentum. Benoit Saint Denis had a couple of setbacks last year to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, but he’s won his last two bouts and is taking a step back up in class here. After the weight miss the odds like Saint Denis at -2000 to a +165 comeback on Dariush.

Lightweight Bout: #9 Beneil Dariush (23-6-1, 157.2 lbs.)* vs. #13 Benoit Saint Denis (15-3 1 NC, 155.6 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Saint Denis has an inch of height and reach advantage, he’s also 7 years younger and Dariush missed weight. Both men fight southpaw and touch gloves to start. Calf kick from Dariush but he gets aggressive trying to follow up and Saint Denis face plants him with a left hand in close and we’re done.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Benoit Saint Denis via KO, punches, at :16 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Saint Denis for his work. Mic time for Saint Denis, he thanks the veterans as we celebrated Veteran’s Day and puts over the UFC’s work with veterans causes. He wants to fight for either the BFM title or the real title soon. Asked specifically about the future he will do whatever the UFC wants.

Leon Edwards is a former welterweight champion but he’s dropped his last two fights, a decision that cost him the title against Belal Muhammad then most recently getting tapped out by Sean Brade. Edwards really needs to halt this skid if he wants to remain a viable contender for the title. Carlos Prates has gone 5-1 in the UFC with all of those wins being finishes, he did drop a decision to Ian Garry last year but also gave Barry a bit of a beating in the fifth round of that fight. Most recently Prates stopped Geoff Neal with a spinning back elbow and now he’s looking for his biggest win to date against the former champion Edwards. Pretty close fight here, -150 for Prates while Edwards sits at +125.

Welterweight Bout: #4 Leon Edwards (22-5 1 NC, 170 lbs.) vs. #9 Carlos Prates (22-7, 169.6 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Edwards is an inch taller while Prates has four inches of reach advantage. Both men fight southpaw, Prates might switch as he goes along but a lot of his time is spent southpaw. Both men show calf kicks as they feint and circle. Bit of a jab from Prates. Edwards with a left hand. Right hand from Prates. Edwards tries a takedown, that hits the fence though and things stall out. Prates with some knees to the thigh while Edwards is trying to find a reap. Not much going on here and the ref breaks them up. Calf kick from Prates. Knee to the body from Prates then a bit of a left hand. Calf kick from Edwards. Edwards counters a calf kick with a takedown, he moves towards the ride as Prates gets to a knee. Both hooks in for Edwards but Prates stands with Edwards in the backpack position. Edwards bails on the backpack then hits a mat return and gets into the ride. Choke from Edwards, short time though and it’s not that close.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Edwards

ROUND TWO: Both men show some kicks again. Prates pushes forward to start and lands a calf kick. Another calf kick from Prates. Both men with lefts. Bit of a right hand from Prates then a jab behind it. Edwards with a left hand to counter a knee. Left hand from Prates ENDS Edwards.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Carlos Prates via KO, punch, at 1:28 of Round 2

Mic time for Prates who plays with the crowd, he feels he’s the most entertaining guy in the division and is happy to give blood and violence to the fans. He talks us through the finish then wants to face off with whoever wins the main event. Feels like he’s a little unlikely to get the next title shot all things considered but he did his job to make his case for it.

Sean Brady has gone 8-1 in the UFC, that lone loss coming to Belal Muhammad in one of Muhammad’s only finishes in the UFC. Most recently Brady has been leaning even more on his wrestling/grappling but it’s put him on a three fight winning streak and if he can get a win here he’ll be in the title picture. Michael Morales is undefeated including six UFC wins, he’s looking to likewise get into the title picture with another win. The odds are close again, -140 for Brady to +120 on Morales.

Welterweight Bout: #2 Sean Brady (18-1, 169.4 lbs.) vs. #8 Michael Morales (18-0, 170.6 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Morales is two inches taller with a serious seven inches of reach advantage, he’s also 7 years younger. Both men probe with kicks. Morales, who looks huge, shows the jab a few times. Both men show the jab, nothing serious is landing yet though. Bit of a right hand from Morales. Calf kick from Brady but Morales lands a jab. One two from Morales, Brady is hurt and Morales clubs him a few more times then avoids a clinch. Brady seems to recover but he’s still backing up and the range is a problem for him. Bit of an uppercut from Morales. Brady lands a jab. Both men do some stance switching, then Morales lands a right hook after blocking a takedown. Brady blocks a few punches, Morales is starting to overthrow a bit and he’s missing because of it. Morales lands a few more jabs. Both men land lefts in close. Hard right from Morales, then an uppercut and Brady is down, Morales unloads some hammer fists to close the show.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Michael Morales via TKO, punches, at 3:27 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Morales for his work. Mic time for Morales and the translator, he wants a title shot then sends love to Ecuador and everyone here including his mom who’s in the crowd. He knew Brady was strong and stocky so he had to fight a little lower and admits to getting undisciplined a bit but hopes the fans liked the fight.

Zhang Weili is the former strawweight champion, she’s on a five fight winning streak and vacated that title to move up and make this challenge for the flyweight title. A win would be big for Zhang as she’d be a two weight world champion and would definitively separate herself in the discussion of best female fighters from a lot of other great competitors. Valentina Shevchenko is in her second title reign and most recently defended the belt against Manon Fiorot, she’s still looking for some history as a win here would tie her with Amanda Nunes for most successful title fights by a female fighter in the UFC. Very close fight, -150 on Shevchenko to +125 for Zhang.

Women’s Flyweight Title Bout: (c) Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1, 124.6 lbs.) vs. Zhang Weili (26-3, 124.6 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Shevchenko is an inch taller with three and a half inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Shevchenko and they touch gloves to get things going. Zhang shows the jab a bit, she’s way too far away though. Leg kick from Shevchenko then Zhang lands a bit of a right hand. Body kick from Shevchenko. Bit of a superman punch from Shevchenko. Zhang with a bit of a body kick but her range is still a little off. Bit of a right from Shevchenko, Zhang charges and eats a knee then gets pushed over so Shevchenko winds up on top in half guard. Zhang is able to get guard then stand but she eats another knee before they separate. Spinning elbow from Shevchenko stuns Zhang but Zhang grabs a clinch anyway. They fight for position for a bit before Shevchenko gets a takedown into side control. A few body blows from Shevchenko land before Zhang gets half guard. Methodical work from Shevchenko, she’s landing some strikes as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Shevchenko

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Zhang keeps bouncing a bit but the range is still a problem. Shevchenko avoids a side kick and lands a leg kick. Left hand from Shevchenko to counter a side kick. They tie up, Shevchenko then with a throw to get on top in half guard. Shevchenko passes to side control and lands a few elbows. Shevchenko is looking for a mounted crucifix but can’t quite find it. Some shoulder strikes from Shevchenko then gets the mounted crucifix briefly, Zhang gets her arm free but took an elbow to do so. Shevchenko lands a few punches and elbows, Zhang is trying to get an underhook and finally shrimps to half guard. A few more punches land for Shevchenko. Zhang gets butterfly guard but her sweep fails so she settles for full guard. Shevchenko passes to half guard and lands punches again. A few more rights from Shevchenko land and that’ll close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Shevchenko but a marginal one, 20-17 Shevchenko overall

ROUND THREE: Zhang back to bouncing at a slightly awkward distance. Shevchenko has a head kick blocked then lands a body kick. Bit of a front kick from Zhang. Shevchenko avoids a right hand, Zhang is struggling with the range. Right hook from Shevchenko. Both women miss punches then Shevchenko lands a spinning back kick. Zhang kicks into a clinch on the fence. A few knees from Shevchenko land then Zhang with an elbow as they break and reset. Knee from Shevchenko, Zhang didn’t like that and she’s backing up. Shevchenko misses a head kick. Zhang misses a kick. Bit of a front kick from Zhang. Shevchenko catches a kick, gets a clinch and takes Zhang back down into half guard. The physical strength of Shevchenko is stifling Zhang’s normal advantages in close quarters and she doesn’t seem to have a second option there. Shevchenko with some punches to the head. A few shoulder strikes from Shevchenko then she lands punches and passes to half guard on the other side. That’s where the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Shevchenko, 30-26 Shevchenko overall

ROUND FOUR: Zhang with a side kick to the knee. Bit of a body kick from Zhang. Body kick from Shevchenko gets Zhang backing up and hurt again. The body strikes from Shevchenko have really bothered Zhang all fight. Zhang avoids a superman punch. Shevchenko avoids a high kick. Another body kick from Shevchenko, then a high kick that’s partially blocked. They tie up, Shevchenko with a couple knees to the body then misses an elbow as Zhang gets out of the clinch. Front kick from Shevchenko, the body work is just killing Zhang slowly. Body kick from Zhang. Shevchenko with a right hook that stuns Zhang for a second. Jab from Shevchenko. Zhang avoids a few kicks but falls short with her punches. Shevchenko catches a kick and takes Zhang down into half guard yet again. Arm triangle attack from Shevchenko but Zhang blocks it and gets her arm out of danger. Some shoulder strikes from Shevchenko then a couple of left hands. Shevchenko ends the round on top.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Shevchenko, 40-35 Shevchenko overall

ROUND FIVE: Zhang shows the jab again. Shevchenko misses a hook kick and they each land a punch. Zhang strikes in close but gets clinched and Shevchenko pushes her into the fence. They jockey for position then Shevchenko lands a knee as they break. Body kick from Shevchenko and she avoids the follow up flurry from Zhang. They clinch again and Shevchenko gets Zhang on the fence. Knee from Shevchenko as they jockey for position then Shevchenko hits a takedown into full guard. Elbow from Shevchenko. Shevchenko passes to half guard again. A few short punches from Shevchenko land. Some hammer fists from Shevchenko land and she’s looking to pass but Zhang is able to block most of those passes so far. Shevchenko with a few more punches. Zhang gets full guard and Shevchenko stands over her and lands a couple of leg kicks to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Shevchenko, 50-44 Shevchenko overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and STILL UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)

Mic time for the champion after she does her dance, she says she trained hard and knew she couldn’t just crash and trade with Zhang because of Zhang’s power so she had to be tactical. When asked what she wants next she feels Natalia Silva or Erin Blanchfield are viable challengers. She says martial arts are her life and as long as her health allows her to fight she will, but does know that time will catch up to her. To close she thanks her team and dedicates the win to her head coach.

Zhang and the translator get some mic time as well, she puts over Shevchenko and is sorry to her fans for letting them down. She plans on still fighting and feels pretty good overall. To close she thanks her team and family, Rogan asks about what weight class she’ll be in going forward and she isn’t sure yet about that.

Islam Makhachev is a former lightweight champion and the most successful lightweight champion in UFC history as he got to four title defenses. Makhachev is looking for a second weight class title here plus he could tie the insane record of Anderson Silva for most consecutive wins in the UFC at 16 since Makhachev is riding a 15 fight winning streak coming into this bout. Jack Della Maddalena is the UFC welterweight champion, he’s riding an 18 fight winning streak and is looking for his first title defense here. If Della Maddalena is able to knock off the top pound for pound fighter in his first title defense it would set the tone for the rest of his title reign as he’s looking to establish his championship legacy. It speaks to how highly Makhachev is regarded that he’s the biggest favorite on the main card at -305 while that +245 comeback on Della Maddalena has to be quite the tempting value bet.

Welterweight Title Bout: (c) Jack Della Maddalena (18-2, 169.8 lbs.) vs. Islam Makhachev (27-1, 170 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Della Maddalena is an inch taller with two and a half inches of reach advantage. Makhachev fighting southpaw, Della Maddalena will do some switching as he likes but opens southpaw as well. A couple calf kicks form Makhachev. Della Maddalena with a bit of a left hand, he’s pressing forward early. Jab from Della Maddalena, then a body jab as well. Both men land lefts. Body jab from Della Maddalena, Makhachev grabs a single leg then switches to a trip and lands on top in half guard. Not much going on here, eventually Della Maddalena gets a bit of a frame and scrambles to his base, Makhachev holds a ride position though. Makhachev tries for the back, he gets both hooks in but Della Maddalena shrimps to half guard. A few elbows from Della Maddalena off of his back. A few lefts from Makhachev land. Makhachev tries to wrap for a d’arce but can’t get his hands together yet. Della Maddalena blocks the choke and tries an octopus guard sweep but Makhachev blocks that and just keeps top position. Full guard now for Della Maddalena but Makhachev passes to half guard. Leg attack now and Della Maddalena lands an illegal kick, he thought Makhachev was up but he had a knee down. Not a bad kick and it was right at the end of the round so nothing much comes of it beyond the ref explaining to Della Maddalena the position which he couldn’t really see.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Makhachev

ROUND TWO: Della Maddalena with some early feinting. Makhachev lands a calf kick. Body kick from Della Maddalena. Another calf kick from Makhachev. Both men land punches in close and Makhachev grabs a clinch to slow things down. They hit the fence and Della Maddalena tries an uchi mata to disengage but Makhachev smothers him and gets on top in north-south. Makhachev moves to half guard for more control. Some short punches from Makhachev land. Not much going on here, Makhachev is landing short blows but not much beyond that right now. Della Maddalena again looks for an octopus guard but Makhachev blocks it and turns things away from the fence. Arm triangle attack from Makhachev but Della Maddalena gets his arm free. Elbows from Makhachev then he passes to a front headlock, Della Maddalena stands into a clinch and that’s where the round will end.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Makhachev, 20-18 Makhachev overall

ROUND THREE: Della Maddalena starts circling a bit more and showing the jab. A few jabs go back and forth. Inside leg kick from Della Maddalena. Makhachev lands a calf kick. Another calf kick from Makhachev then a front kick to the face partially lands. Right hand from Della Maddalena, Makhachev misses his counter high kick. Flurry from Della Maddalena in close to the body and head, Makhachev lands a knee but pocket exchanges aren’t to his favor it seems. Calf kick from Makhachev then he hits a double leg into half guard. Makhachev is fishing for a choke again, Della Maddalena is able to block that but he’s really got to be able to get out from under Makhachev. Della Maddalena is just kind of stuck again, Makhachev’s top pressure is just smothering. A few hammer fists from Makhachev land. Makhachev sneaks in a few elbows as well, again nothing too serious but he’s staying decently busy. Della Maddalena gets to turtle and tries to wrestle up but Makhachev with a counter hip toss as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Makhachev, 30-27 Makhachev overall

ROUND FOUR: Della Maddalena starts orthodox now, his right calf might be hurt but he fires a few kicks with it. Body kick from Makhachev. Both men keep feinting but neither is committing much, Della Maddalena has really struggled to find a flow with his strikes. Calf kick from Makhachev. Double leg from Makhachev and he mounts the legs. Makhachev moves up the body, Della Maddalena tries to scramble and gives up the back. Both hooks in for Makhachev then he goes to a body triangle. Makhachev catches one of Della Maddalena’s arms with his legs and that makes the choke dangerous. Della Maddalena gets that arm back and is able to shrimp to half guard again. Makhachev’s shoulder pressure is still insane as he controls Della Maddalena against the fence. Kimura attack from Makhachev, Della Maddalena scoots to sit on the fence and that kills that particular attack. Della Maddalena wall walks up but can’t get off the fence as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Makhachev, 40-36 Makhachev overall

ROUND FIVE: Della Maddalena pressures forward with jabs then misses a right hand. Bit of a right from Della Maddalena but Makhachev hits a takedown into half guard again. Makhachev attacks the arm again but Della Maddalena defends. Della Maddalena tries to get to octopus again but Makhachev kills that and keeps him on a hip. A few rights from Makhachev. Della Maddalena half tries a kimura but there’s nothing there for him. Della Maddalena is able to hip escape to full guard. Makhachev passes to half guard again. Della Maddalena half tries a buggy choke but that’s not going to do much. Makhachev is after the d’arce choke again but loses it as Della Maddalena scrambles around and gives up north-south. Makhachev puts himself back into half guard for control. Della Maddalena gets full guard but he needs a hail Mary here. Della Maddalena gets to his knees, Makhachev holds him in the clinch as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Makhachev, 50-45 Makhachev overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and NEW UFC Welterweight Champion Islam Makhachev via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)

Mic time for the new champ, he says this is a dream and his life has been dedicated to holding the two belts he has. Technically he’s not the lightweight champ. He thanks the fans, then says his life has changed with the lack of serious weight cut for welterweight and that helped make this fight go how it did. He says everyone knows what he’s going to do but no one can stop him. Asked about his first challenger he wants to fight on the White House card but doesn’t give a name.

On that note UFC 322 comes to a close. We’ll be unpacking all the fallout from this event on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast plus look ahead to next week when the UFC is in Qatar. That event will at an early start time so don’t forget that if you want to follow live. I’ll be back for that event and I hope you will too. Until then thank you so much for reading, stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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