UFC: Main Card in New York
The annual UFC pay-per-view event in New York promises strong emotions with two stellar fights.
Islam Makhachev, former lightweight champion, will seek a second title by facing 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, Zhang Weili, former strawweight champion, will move up to the flyweight division to challenge Valentina Shevchenko.
Makhachev (27-1) vacated the 155-pound title earlier this year, anticipating his move to welterweight. Zhang (26-3) also vacated her 115-pound championship to compete at 125 pounds.
Makhachev defended his lightweight title four times before announcing his move to welterweight. He will seek to achieve what his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, never did: become a champion in two divisions.
Della Maddalena (18-2), from Perth, Australia, hasn’t lost since his two initial defeats in 2016. He conquered 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 one of the most prominent figures in UFC flyweight history, with two titles and eight defenses.
In addition, a welterweight bout was announced on the main card between former champion Leon Edwards (22-5) and Brazilian contender Carlos Prates (22-7).
