Mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Islam Makhachev will take a shot at winning his first title in the welterweight division when he takes on reigning champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.Makhachev’s last UFC fight was in January when he defeated Renato Moicano by submission to successfully defend his lightweight title belt, which he first won in 2022.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listFour months later, the Russian fighter vacated the lightweight title and boldly announced his decision to move up a weight class and challenge Australia’s Della Maddalena in one of the most eagerly awaited UFC fights on the 2025 calendar.Here’s what you need to know about UFC 322:When does the UFC 322 fight start?
The Della Maddalena-Makhachev main event will be held on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The five-fight main card is scheduled to begin at 10pm (03:00 GMT on Sunday) with the ring walk for the Della Maddalena-Makhachev bout not expected before 11:30pm (04:30 GMT on Sunday).
The four-fight preliminary card begins at 8pm (01:00 GMT on Sunday).
Why did Makhachev switch from lightweight to welterweight?Makhachev, a four-time defending lightweight champion, vacated the belt in May to move up to the welterweight classification.The Russian told ESPN that it was difficult to cut weight for the 155lb (70kg) lightweight class and it affected his performance and recovery.“My life changed when I changed the weight division. All my life, I had to think about what I eat. … Now I can eat whatever I want and smile.” Advertisement “At 155lb, it is so difficult. … Now, I a …