Two Super Fights to Headline Annual UFC Event in New York
The UFC’s annual pay-per-view event in New York will be headlined by two high-caliber super fights.
Former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will seek to conquer a second title by facing current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. The event will be on November 15 at Madison Square Garden, according to UFC CEO Dana White.
In the co-main event, former strawweight champion Zhang Weili will move up to the flyweight division to challenge Valentina Shevchenko.
Makhachev, with a record of 27-1, vacated the 155-pound title earlier this year, anticipating his move up to welterweight. For his part, Zhang (26-3) also vacated her 115-pound championship to compete at 125 pounds.
Makhachev defended his lightweight title four times before announcing his transition to welterweight. Now, he will seek to achieve what his retired and undefeated mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, could never do in his successful career: become a two-division champion.
Della Maddalena (18-2), from Perth, Australia, hasn’t suffered a defeat since starting his professional career in 2016 with two consecutive falls. 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 the most dominant figure in UFC flyweight history, being a two-time champion with eight title defenses across two reigns.
White also announced a welterweight main card clash between former champion Leon Edwards (22-5) and promising Brazilian contender Carlos Prates (22-7).
