TLDR
- Islam Makhachev moves up from lightweight to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title at UFC 322 on November 15 in New York
- Della Maddalena won the welterweight belt at UFC 315 by stopping former champion Belal Muhammad
- Alexander Volkanovski, who fought Makhachev twice, predicts Della Maddalena will win the fight
- Volkanovski credits Della Maddalena’s pressure boxing and improved grappling defense as keys to victory
- Makhachev is attempting to become a two-division champion with his move to welterweight
UFC 322 will feature a champion versus champion fight on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Islam Makhachev will move up from lightweight to challenge welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena.
Makhachev holds a 27-1 record in mixed martial arts and a 16-1 record inside the UFC. He currently ranks as the promotion’s pound-for-pound number one fighter. The lightweight champion wants to join the elite group of fighters who have won titles in two different weight classes.
Della Maddalena earned his welterweight championship at UFC 315 by stopping Belal Muhammad. The Australian fighter has an 18-2 overall record and remains undefeated in the UFC with an 8-0 mark. He now faces the challenge of defending his title for the first time against one of the sport’s most dominant champions.
Former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has shared his prediction for the fight. Volkanovski fought Makhachev twice at lightweight, losing a close decision at UFC 284 and getting stopped in their rematch at UFC 294. His experience against Makhachev gives him unique insight into this matchup.
Alexander Volkanovski warns Jack Della Maddalena to stay off the ground against Islam Makhachev:
"Jack’s great on the ground, but we don’t want it to go to the ground. That’s Islam’s world. That’s all he does 24/7. Islam was probably wrestling before he started walking."
🔗 🎥… pic.twitter.com/31ZcO3JKcs
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) November 12, 2025
Volkanovski praised Della Maddalena’s striking ability and recent improvements. He pointed to the champion’s victory over Muhammad as evidence of his growth. Muhammad is known as a strong wrestler and grappler, but Della Maddalena handled those threats while displaying his boxing skills.
“You can’t doubt him. He’s a welterweight, and you’ve got Belal, who’s a grappler-wrestler. Look how he handled that,” Volkanovski said. He believes the confidence Della Maddalena gained from that fight will help him against Makhachev.
Della Maddalena’s Striking Advantage
The welterweight champion’s pressure boxing stands out as his main weapon. Volkanovski described Della Maddalena’s ability to combine punches and apply constant pressure as elite level. The Australian fighter also has a finishing instinct that makes him dangerous when he hurts opponents.
Della Maddalena’s game plan will focus on keeping the fight standing. His boxing and forward pressure work best when he can control distance on the feet. Volkanovski advised the welterweight champion to worry about takedowns only when they become immediate threats.
Makhachev’s Grappling Threat
Makhachev brings elite grappling skills to the welterweight division. Volkanovski highlighted his control, body awareness, and understanding of positioning. The lightweight champion has strong submission skills, particularly with chokes, and maintains tight grips throughout fights.
His ability to manipulate opponents on the ground and improve positions makes him dangerous. Makhachev typically dominates fights once he gets them to the mat. Volkanovski noted that while Della Maddalena has good ground skills, grappling remains Makhachev’s strongest area.
The featherweight champion emphasized that Della Maddalena must make takedowns difficult for Makhachev. If the welterweight champion can defend well and keep the action standing, his striking gives him a clear path to victory. Volkanovski believes Della Maddalena will win, possibly by decision, though a finish remains possible.
Volkanovski plans to train with Della Maddalena before the fight. He called the Australian fighter “a weapon” and noted that Makhachev should not take this challenge lightly. The lightweight champion faces a size disadvantage moving up in weight, but Volkanovski still considers him a threat to any welterweight.
🚨 JDM and Alexander Volkanovski getting some last minute fight week training in 💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/pWPNcpte81
— ape (@qpe) November 10, 2025
The fight takes place on November 15 at Madison Square Garden with both fighters entering as champions in their respective divisions.
