Jack Della Maddalena, Valentina Shevchenko defend titles at UFC 322

Jack Della Maddalena makes the primary protection of his welterweight title in opposition to 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 driving an 18-fight profitable streak after capturing the title at UFC 315 in Might with a unanimous choice over Belal Muhammad. The 29-year-old Australian instructed reporters Thursday afternoon he’s grateful for the chance to aim to beat Makhachev (27-1 MMA), who’s ranked No. 2 by the UFC in its pound-for-pound scores.

“That is what I bought into this sport for,” Della Maddalena mentioned in regards to the struggle. “Large challenges. Large moments. I am excited for the problem. I am wanting ahead to it. I am excited for this struggle on Saturday. It is gonna be a superb evening.”

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 turn into double champion. Two extra days.”

Somebody’s profitable streak shall be snapped come struggle evening, as Makhachev enters the struggle having received 15 in a row.

The co-headliner has its personal stakes hooked up. Each girls have immense respect for one another and count on the most effective from each other in a struggle UFC CEO Dana White says will undoubtedly decide who’s the best feminine fighter of this technology.

“Once you speak about a real tremendous struggle, you’ve gotten 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) shall 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 yr 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 will be an important struggle,” the 37-year-old Kyrgyzstan native mentioned, “and I am positively going to place all the pieces 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:

Predominant 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 Stage Media