Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev Bout Predictions

Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev are set to face off at UFC 322. Their bout is the 14th fight out of 14 on the Main Card. This is a Welterweight division match, meaning both fighters will compete at 170 lbs (77.1 kg).

Considering the last five matches, both players have been on a perfect ride, winning all their matches. This match is unique because on the line is the UFC Welterweight Championship title, which Belal Muhammad is currently holding. Here’s a quick breakdown—and who could be the smarter bet?

Fighters’ Profiles and Strength

Islam Makhachev – WWWWW

Islam Makhachev has ruled the lightweight division and is now going for the welterweight title. He is one of the best grapplers in the sport because he has trained in Combat Sambo and with Khabib Nurmagomedov. He combines top-notch wrestling, positional control, and better striking. He has shown that he can beat his opponents on the ground and in the air. His style is an evolution of Dagestan’s grappling history into a fighter who can do it all.

Makhachev has been the best at taking down opponents, with a 53% success rate and 3.2 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a 61% defence against strikes and only takes 1.55 strikes per minute. He controls fights, whether they’re standing or on the ground, for 427 seconds every 15 minutes, which is almost three times the average for the division.

He is a world-class chain wrestler with great top control and a lot of pressure. His cardio is the best, and his left hand is getting better at hitting things as time goes on. But he does have some flaws. Islam Makhachev has a shorter reach, and people can jab him from far away. He sometimes lets go of clinch breaks too easily and can be open to counters when he goes too far with his shots.

Jack Della Maddalena – WWWWW

Jack Della Maddalena has won 18 times and lost 2 times. He quickly moved up the welterweight ranks because he was accurate, calm, and tough. He had his big moment when he beat Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 to win the title. He got a knee-to-ground TKO in the third round of his UFC 299 fight against Gilbert Burns, which earned him the Performance of the Night bonus. He won a split decision over Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night before that. He also won Fight of the Night for beating Bassil Hafez by split decision in 2023.

Della Maddalena is now 5th in the welterweight division, 31st in pound-for-pound, 98th among fan favourites, and 17th for MMA Fighter of the Year in 2022. He has won 12 fights by TKO, 2 by submission, and 3 by unanimous decision. He lost twice, once by submission and once by decision.

He first fought on the Dana White Contender Series in 2021 and won by decision. He signed with the UFC the next year and has won all seven of his fights since then. Jack Della Maddalena is a great boxer because he can hit his opponent’s body exactly where he wants to and has great defence. He doesn’t waste movement and stays calm under stress.

But his defensive grappling hasn’t been tested against the best wrestlers yet. He can also start slowly in Round 1 and be held down in long clinches against the cage.

What time is the fight?

The fight kicks off live on Saturday 11.15.2025 at 06:00 PM ET

Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

How Can I Watch It?

If you’re interested, you can watch it on ESPN+ Pay-per-view.

SHOP: Kickboxing Gear

Statistical Matchup

CATEGORY	ISLAM MAKHACHEV	JACK DELLA MADDALENA
AGE	34	29
HEIGHT	5’10”	5’11”
REACH	70.5″	73.0″
PRO RECORD	27-1-0	18-2-0
FIGHTING OUT OF	Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia	Perth, Western Australia

Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev Final Prediction

Jack Della Maddalena has quickly become a strong contender because he strikes at a high level. He moves well, changes stances, and hits powerful combinations at the right times. While he may not have the best size or speed, he consistently hits his opponents, even those who are more naturally gifted. Jack is in great shape with an 18-2 MMA record and a perfect 9-0 UFC record.

He hits the body and head with different kinds of strikes and doesn’t fall for feints very often. He knows how to get his opponents to react to his own feints and hit them with the right strike at the right time.

Jack’s best chance is to make Makhachev fight with his fists. He needs to stay balanced and separate, hitting Makhachev with uppercuts, elbows, and sharp jabs when he tries to get in. Jack might be able to steal rounds with his strikes and faster reactions if he can avoid being controlled for long periods of time. But it’s hard to deal with Makhachev’s pressure. He has a lot of control over his position, and once he gets on top of you, it’s hard to get away.

BOUT TO BE WON BY A POINT VICTORY

OVER 3.5 ROUNDS