TLDR
- Ethyn Ewing defeated Malcolm Wellmaker by unanimous decision at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden on just 48 hours’ notice
- Ewing took the fight at featherweight (up from his normal bantamweight) after winning by knockout on the regional circuit just days earlier
- He arrived in New York on a red-eye flight the morning of weigh-ins and went straight to the scale before pulling off the upset as an underdog
- Ewing controlled most of the fight with takedowns, strikes, and pressure despite Wellmaker’s dangerous right hand and late-round body work
- The new father-to-be plans to return to bantamweight in early 2026 after his wife gives birth to their baby boy in December
Ethyn Ewing Upsets Malcolm Wellmaker at UFC 322 on Two Days’ Notice
Ethyn Ewing pulled off an impressive upset victory at UFC 322, defeating previously unbeaten Malcolm Wellmaker by unanimous decision in the preliminary card at Madison Square Garden. The fight took place at featherweight instead of the fighters’ usual bantamweight division due to the extremely short notice of the matchup.
Ewing received the call to fight just two days before the event. He had just won by knockout on the regional circuit days earlier. The quick turnaround meant he would compete at 145 pounds rather than his normal 135-pound weight class.
The circumstances surrounding the fight were unusual even by short-notice standards. Ewing flew from Los Angeles to New York on a red-eye flight, arriving the morning of the weigh-ins. He went straight from his hotel to the scale without any time to settle in or prepare normally.
Theres a lot of big names being talked about after #UFC322, but imo the name that stuck with me the most on this card was Ethyn Ewing.
This man made his UFC debut on 2 days notice against a highly-rated prospect in Malcolm Wellmaker in the biggest arena at MSG and not only won,… pic.twitter.com/9aIr9WFr0K
— The Octagon Enthusiast 🇺🇸 🎈 (@8EnthusiastMMA) November 16, 2025
Despite being the underdog against an undefeated fighter viewed as a rising contender, Ewing demonstrated he belonged in the UFC. He said he had been watching bantamweight fights closely and knew plenty about Wellmaker’s style. He was specifically prepared for Wellmaker’s powerful right hand that had finished previous opponents.
Early Action and Momentum Shifts
The first round saw both fighters willing to exchange strikes. Wellmaker landed a dangerous right hand early that could have ended the fight. However, Ewing recovered and took control of the round with takedowns and ground strikes.
He opened a cut near Wellmaker’s right eye with his strikes. Late in the round, Ewing landed several big knees from the clinch position. This likely gave him the edge on the judges’ scorecards for the opening frame.
Ewing built on his success in the second round. He landed a high kick early and continued to work on the cut by Wellmaker’s eye. His pressure kept Wellmaker on the defensive for much of the round.
Wellmaker found success with body strikes late in the second. A knee to the body forced Ewing to change tactics and attempt a takedown. While Ewing briefly got the fight to the ground, Wellmaker quickly returned to his feet.
Final Round Determination
The fight reached the third round with the outcome uncertain. Ewing came out aggressively, staying busy with his strikes and forward movement. Wellmaker struggled to replicate his late success from the second round.
The judges scored the fight 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 all in favor of Ewing. The unanimous decision gave him his first UFC victory in his promotional debut. His performance earned praise from the Madison Square Garden crowd.
There's something so beautiful about watching massive favorites and big underdogs fight their hearts out. Ethyn Ewing just gained some serious stock as a UFC fighter.
As a great fighter once said "The fight is the fight" pic.twitter.com/8qekWJWzu0
— SOOKY MMA🎙🥊🥋 (@TheSookyScoop) November 16, 2025
After the fight, Ewing confirmed his readiness for the UFC stage. He said he had expected to reach this level and was prepared when the opportunity came. His knowledge of Wellmaker’s fighting style from watching previous bantamweight bouts helped him develop an effective game plan.
Ewing’s record improved to 9-2 in mixed martial arts and 1-0 in the UFC. Wellmaker’s previously unbeaten streak ended as his record dropped to 10-1 overall and 2-1 in the UFC. The fight marked Wellmaker’s first professional loss.
Ewing plans to return to bantamweight for his next UFC appearance. He and his wife are expecting a baby boy in December. Because of this, he wants a full training camp with proper weight cutting for his next fight.
He stated he will be ready to compete again in early 2026 with full preparation and motivation.
