UFC 322: The future of the welterweight division at stake
by Tyler Doty
The UFC welterweight division has historically been one of the most competitive in all of mixed martial arts, so this matchup between defending champion Jack Della Maddalena and challenger Islam Makhachev will be no exception. Not only will the main event of UFC 322 set the course for the future of the welterweight division, but its main card also features some big names.
Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev: Where is the welterweight division headed?
The Australian began his reign after snatching the division title from Palestinian Muhammad Belal in a hard-fought bout that ended on points after five rounds. The Perth native will make his first title defense after a perfect run since joining the UFC, remaining undefeated with a personal record of 8-0.
Maddalena is known for his power-based fighting style, which gives him a natural advantage in exchanges. He has also combined this with the speed of youth and great pacing, allowing him to control his fights by exploiting his strengths.
His opponent is one of the most formidable fighters today, as after his only defeat to Brazilian Adriano Martins by knockout in the first round, he has achieved a streak of 12 consecutive victories, during which he also won the lightweight title. This will be his first fight in this weight class, where he could become champion in two different categories in the UFC.
There are plenty of reasons to believe in the Russian's coronation, not only because of his recent great form, but also because his fighting style based on grappling and samba has made him one of the best fighters in the world on the ground. Added to this, he has great submission power, having achieved 13 of his 27 victories in this way.
The outcome of this fight will set a new course for the welterweight division in the UFC. On the one hand, if Maddalena wins, it will consolidate his reign as welterweight champion after a somewhat uncertain start. However, a victory for Makhachev would be the beginning of a dynasty that could mark an era in the UFC, led by one of the best grapplers in MMA. If you're wondering who the favorite is, the Russian leads the betting with a maximum of 1.40 odds if you bet on his victory.
Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales: Contender fight
The welterweight division will not only see action in the title fight, as two clear contenders for the top prize will also face off at UFC 322. American fighter Brady is coming off a wasted title opportunity against Palestinian Muhammad Belal, so with his record of 18 wins and one loss, he knows he needs to dust himself off and use his jiu-jitsu to sneak back into the title picture.
On the other side, Ecuadorian Michael Morales has been performing incredibly well in his UFC debut, maintaining his undefeated record in his first six fights in the franchise. The South American is known for his enormous knockout power, having won by knockout against 13 of his 18 opponents so far in his career, thanks in part to his combination of boxing and Muay Thai, which allows him to create openings in his opponents.
The winner of this fight will be virtually guaranteed a title shot for the welterweight belt, so a fierce battle between two fighters in top form is expected. If you think the Ecuadorian-born fighter could spring a surprise and take the win.
Finally, another name we cannot leave out of the welterweight scene is that of Kazakh fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov, as he is another fighter in the category who has remained undefeated with a record of 19 victories, 7 of which have been in the UFC franchise.
