Maddalena vs Makhachev Prediction
🔥 On the night of November 15-16, New York (USA) will host the highly anticipated UFC 322 tournament. The main event of the evening features Islam Makhachev, who aims to make history by becoming the first Russian UFC champion in two weight classes. He will face the current welterweight titleholder, Australian Jack Della Maddalena. Can Islam clinch victory in the most crucial fight of his career? Check out the prediction below!
Interesting Facts
- Islam Makhachev is on a 15-fight winning streak.
- Jack Della Maddalena rides an 18-fight winning streak.
- This marks Islam Makhachev's debut in the welterweight division.
- For Jack Della Maddalena, this is his first title defense.
- Islam Makhachev could become the first Russian UFC champion in two weight classes and the 11th fighter worldwide to achieve this feat in history.
H2H Stats Fights and Previous Results
Jack Della Maddalena Player Overview
Jack Della Maddalena (18-2, Australia), a 28-year-old striker renowned for his knockout power (67% of his victories come via knockout), has made waves in the MMA world. After dropping his first two career fights, the Australian went on an impressive nine-fight winning streak, earning him a spot on Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS). Successfully dispatching Ange Lusa, Della Maddalena secured a UFC contract. Since January 2022, the Aussie has racked up seven wins, leading him to a title fight. In May 2025, Jack convincingly outstruck Belal Muhammad, who, to the surprise of many, chose to engage mostly in stand-up exchanges.
Match Results: Jack Della Maddalena
Islam Makhachev Player Overview
Islam Makhachev (27-1, Russia), the 34-year-old former P4P leader, has been on an extraordinary run since 2016, racking up 15 consecutive victories and capturing the UFC lightweight title. In October 2022 at UFC 280, Makhachev defeated Charles Oliveira, setting a record for the most lightweight title defenses with four. In January 2025 at UFC 311, Islam secured a first-round submission victory over Renato Moicano, after which he decided to vacate the title and move up to the welterweight division at 77 kg.
Match Results: Islam Makhachev
Latest news
Jack Della Maddalena
Maddalena on the upcoming bout:
"Crafting a solid strategy is the key to defeating Islam. We're analyzing his fights, strengths, and weaknesses, leveraging my own advantages and shortcomings to create the most favorable blend. Obviously, he possesses top-tier wrestling skills, so we've been focusing heavily on grappling in training. I'll keep him at bay and work from a distance because I believe I have a significant edge in striking. Makhachev will be relentless in pursuing takedowns, but I am confident that I can get back on my feet in every round and break him down. I'll dismantle him and come out on top. This will solidify my status as one of the greatest welterweights."
Islam Makhachev
Makhachev on the upcoming fight:
"This is one of the toughest fights for me because he's big and skilled in every aspect. Maybe he doesn't have the best takedown defense, but his grappling is solid. That's why I'm prepared for anything. I know he's training hard for me, especially since his last opponent was Belal. Belal also tried to wrestle him, but Maddalena managed to defend. If Jack stops my wrestling, I'll try again, and if that doesn't work, I'll stand and trade with him."
⭐ Editorial Prediction
There's no doubt Makhachev is the favorite in this matchup, even though Islam is moving up a weight class. Why? It's simple. Maddalena presents a favorable stylistic matchup for the Russian. Jack is an excellent boxer, but his takedown defense is poor, and his ground game has significant gaps. We believe Makhachev's wrestling and grappling skills, arguably making him the most dominant fighter in the UFC over the past five years, will be the X-factor in this contest.