Jack Della Maddalena will defend his welterweight title against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2025. This will be one of the most exciting fights of the year. These two top athletes have diverse martial arts systems, fight methods, and career paths which are brought together in one fight.
Makhachev, who has been the best lightweight for a long time, climbs up after vacating his title. Della Maddalena is an undefeated fighter in the UFC. He recently won the title with an exemplary performance. The fight is important not only because of the championship stakes, but also because of the variety of techniques that will be on display.
Islam Makhachev: The Technical Grappler
Islam Makhachev (27–1) has an excellent track record because he knows how to control his position, create pressure on his opponents, and follow through with his strategies. Makhachev has been a student of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov for a long time and has trained with Khabib Nurmagomedov. He fights with a base in combat sambo, freestyle wrestling, and judo-style trips and throws.
Core Fighting Traits
-
Top Control: One of Makhachev’s greatest assets is his ability to attain and maintain dominant positions. He passes guard efficiently, enjoys playing mount or half guard, and makes it hard for his opponent to scramble.
- Submission Game: Makhachev has won 11 fights by submission, usually with arm-triangle chokes, kimuras, or rear-naked chokes. He typically finishes his opponents when they overextend in defense because he can move between positions smoothly.
- Defensive Efficiency: Statistically, he absorbs fewer than 2.0 significant strikes per minute, reflecting both his ability to neutralize striking threats and his awareness of range.
- Striking Development: Makhachev isn’t a volume striker, but his stand-up has gotten better with time. He keeps his balance and sets up takedown entries with kicks, check hooks, and feints. His knockout of Alexander Volkanovski showed how he can capitalize on timing errors.
Adjustments at Welterweight
Makhachev will now have to fight bigger, stronger opponents because he is moving up to welterweight. His body type makes the move easier; he’s had trouble getting down to 155 lbs for quite some time as well. But being able to control opponents with more mass and striking force is a whole new set of challenges.
Jack Della Maddalena: The Disciplined Boxer
Jack Della Maddalena (18–2) is the current UFC welterweight champion and one of the cleanest strikers in the promotion. Since making his debut through Dana White’s Contender Series, he has fought elite competition with composure, accuracy, and fight IQ. Della Maddalena’s style is centered around boxer-style footwork, range control, and shot selection.
Core Fighting Traits
-
Striking Precision: JDM rarely wastes movement or throws wide. His jab-cross combinations, body work, and counter hooks are delivered with accuracy. He varies levels and mixes shots to the liver with head strikes, forcing opponents into defensive shells.
-
Composure Under Pressure: Even when pushed, Della Maddalena does not panic. His ability to maintain range, circle out, and reset is a key reason he has remained undefeated in the UFC.
-
Takedown Defense and Recovery: Though not historically known for defensive wrestling, JDM has developed strong first-layer takedown defense. When taken down, he maintains composure, creates frames, and works back to the fence. His recent work with grappling coach Craig Jones has further solidified his ability to handle wrestling threats.
-
Finishing Ability: With 12 of his 18 wins coming by knockout, JDM has shown that once he hurts an opponent, he finishes methodically. He does not overextend or chase wild exchanges.
Tactical Matchup: How Styles Interact
This is a classic grappler vs. striker fight, but there are more subtle differences than just style. Both fighters are calm, disciplined, and not easily affected by problems. Neither of them will probably be drawn into dangerous exchanges. Instead, the debate will be over how to structure, time, and carry out the plan.
Phase One: Distance and Setup
The first round could be a test of patience. Makhachev is likely to use low kicks, feints, and move forward to get closer to JDM and push him back towards the fence. Della Maddalena will try to keep moving sideways, controlling the center and using his jab to prevent takedown attempts before they begin.
There is a fair chance that Makhachev will get a takedown early on. Della Maddalena has been able to stop single-legs and trips in open space, but fighting against chain wrestling on the fence is a whole other story. If Makhachev can get JDM against the cage, the odds of a mat exchange go up considerably.
Phase Two: Control or Escape
Once they are on the ground, the odds flip in favor of Makhachev controlling the round. He has shown that he can maintain his position and stop people from escaping. If he gets mount or back control, Della Maddalena could fall behind on the scorecards, even if he doesn’t take much damage.
If JDM can frame, stand, and get away from a takedown in less than 30 seconds, the round is probably going to go back in his favor. The longer the fight stays on the feet, the more opportunities JDM has to land clean counters and stop Makhachev when he changes levels.
Phase Three: Adaptation and Conditioning
If the fight reaches the championship rounds, both fighters will have had opportunities to test their preferred systems. Makhachev has gone five rounds multiple times and is accustomed to controlling pace over long periods. Della Maddalena, while less experienced in five-round fights, has shown little drop-off in output or accuracy in later rounds.
Conditioning will matter, but adaptation may be even more crucial. If Della Maddalena can react to Makhachev’s entries and hit him with meaningful strikes on each occasion, the threat of a takedown may go down with time. On the other hand, if Makhachev can force a lot of ground exchanges early on, JDM may have to spend more time defending than attacking, which would make it tough to win the rounds.
Significance of the Matchup
This fight is very important for both men, not just because of the welterweight title, but also because of how they will be remembered in the sport as a whole. Islam Makhachev’s move to welterweight is the start of a new chapter in his already successful career. If he wins, he would become a two-division UFC champion, which is a very rare achievement. This will also strengthen his claim to be one of the most well-rounded fighters of the modern age. He has a chance to show that his grappling-heavy approach can work against bigger, stronger opponents.
This is a definitive title defense for Jack Della Maddalena. His spotless UFC record and recent title win have made him more well-known, but beating a previous champion like Makhachev, who is just as skillful and experienced, would prove that he is the finest welterweight in the world. It would also show that his anti-wrestling tactics and striking discipline can handle the stress of high-level grappling. The outcome of UFC 322 might change the legacies of both fighters and decide where they will be in the sport’s history for a long time.
