TLDR
- Daniel Cormier believes Islam Makhachev has more pressure on him than champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322
- Makhachev voluntarily gave up his lightweight title to move up to welterweight and challenge for a second belt
- The 34-year-old is ranked as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter and enters as the betting favorite
- Makhachev defended the lightweight title four times, setting a UFC division record
- Cormier says if Makhachev loses, he won’t be a champion in any form for the first time in years
Daniel Cormier says Islam Makhachev carries more pressure than Jack Della Maddalena heading into their UFC 322 welterweight title fight Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The former two-division champion shared his thoughts on his longtime teammate’s challenge against the undefeated champion.
Makhachev gave up his UFC lightweight championship to move up to 170 pounds. He will face Della Maddalena in the main event on pay-per-view.
The 34-year-old Makhachev holds the top spot in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. He enters the fight as the betting favorite despite challenging for the belt.
Cormier explained why the challenger faces more expectations than the champion. He told MMA Junkie Radio that people still view Makhachev as a champion because he gave up his belt voluntarily.
“I mean, you always put the pressure on the champion, right?” Cormier said. “You’re the one who has the potential to lose the belt.”
“The pressure is on Islam,” Cormier continued. “Islam Makhachev is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”
Daniel Cormier’s honest advice for Islam Makhachev to control the fight 💬🔥 #UFC322
"Islam, you better set the tone of this fight. You cannot sit back and wait for Jack to determine where and how the fight takes place. You gotta push him against the octagon side and get him on… pic.twitter.com/LQu7T9eOgc
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) November 14, 2025
People expect Makhachev to win even though this represents a difficult challenge. Cormier called it the toughest fight of Makhachev’s career.
The pressure comes from Makhachev’s decision to leave his lightweight title. Fans still consider him a champion in their minds.
“You go lose to Jack, now for the first time in a really long time, you’re not the champion in any way, shape or form,” Cormier explained.
Makhachev’s Lightweight Legacy
Makhachev set a UFC lightweight record by defending his title four times. He built a 27-1 record with a 16-1 mark inside the UFC.
His decision to move up in weight came after establishing dominance at 155 pounds. He chose to pursue a second championship rather than continue defending at lightweight.
Della Maddalena brings an 18-2 overall record and perfect 8-0 UFC mark into the fight. He defends the welterweight title for the first time.
Daniel Cormier comments on Islam Makhachev's route to Double Champion.
(via @MainEventTV)#ufcnews #mmanews #ufc #UFC322 #IslamMakhachev #DanielCormier pic.twitter.com/TUzzitOUmB
— Sports Condensed UFC (@ufccondensed) November 13, 2025
Looking Ahead to Saturday Night
The welterweight champion has less experience in high-profile fights of this magnitude. Cormier believes this works in his favor regarding pressure.
Makhachev stated during fight week that he plans to stay at welterweight regardless of the outcome. The move represents a permanent shift in his career path.
The fight takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York. Both fighters enter on winning streaks and operate at the highest levels of the sport.
UFC 322 airs on pay-per-view, ESPNews, Disney+, FX and ESPN+. Makhachev’s 27-1 record faces Della Maddalena’s unbeaten UFC run in one of the year’s most anticipated matchups.
