UFC Star Card in New York: Makhachev and Della Maddalena Headline the Event
New York City is preparing to be the epicenter of mixed martial arts action, as the UFC announces a pay-per-view event with high-caliber fights. Former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will seek a second title against current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. The event will take place on November 15 at Madison Square Garden. In the co-main event, former strawweight champion Zhang Weili will move up to the flyweight division to face Valentina Shevchenko. Makhachev, with a record of 27-1, vacated his 155-pound title earlier this year to move up to welterweight. For his part, Zhang, with a record of 26-3, also vacated her 115-pound championship to compete at 125 pounds.Della Maddalena, from Perth, Australia, with a record of 18-2, hasn’t known defeat since the start of his professional career in 2016. He won the UFC title after defeating Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision in May. Zhang is coming off a title defense against Tatiana Suarez in February. Shevchenko, 37, is a dominant figure in the UFC flyweight division, with two titles and eight successful defenses. Furthermore, a welterweight bout was announced on the main card between former champion Leon Edwards (22-5) and the promising Brazilian contender Carlos Prates (22-7).Makhachev will try to achieve something that his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, never could: become a two-division champion.
Dana White, UFC CEO
