Former LW Champ Islam Makhachev Talks Title Fight With Jack Della Maddalena At UFC 322 Media Day Q&A

Hear from former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev as he answers questions from the media in advance of his title fight vs welterweight Champ Jack Della Maddalena. #islammakhachev #ufc322 #jdm #jackdellamaddalena #mediaday

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*Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev* is the main event for *UFC 322* this weekend.

Here are the key details about this highly anticipated matchup:

🏆 Welterweight Championship Bout

*What it is:* Della Maddalena will be defending his *UFC Welterweight Championship* (170 lbs) against Makhachev.
*When:* *Saturday, November 15, 2025* (UFC 322).
*Where:* *Madison Square Garden* in New York City.

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🤼 The Fighters and Their Styles

| Fighter | Role in Fight | Background/Style | Key Strengths |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| *Jack Della Maddalena* | Reigning Champion | Australian, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt | **Lethal and accurate striker**, excellent counter-striker. Known for his powerful punching and finishing ability. |
| *Islam Makhachev* | Challenger | Russian, protégé of Khabib Nurmagomedov | *World-class wrestling and grappling* foundation, elite ground-and-pound, relentless pressure. Highly successful striker as well. |

📈 The Stakes

This fight is a classic striker-vs-grappler clash, but with massive implications:

*Makhachev's Quest for Two-Division Glory:* Makhachev is the former dominant UFC *Lightweight Champion* (155 lbs). He vacated that title to move up a weight class and challenge for the Welterweight title, aiming to join a very exclusive club of two-division UFC champions.
*Della Maddalena's First Title Defense:* JDM is making his first defense of the Welterweight title since winning it in May 2025. He is looking to prove his doubters wrong and establish himself as the undisputed king of the 170-pound division by beating one of the sport's pound-for-pound best fighters.
*The Weight Change Narrative:* Makhachev and his team have stated the weight cut to 155 lbs was extremely taxing. Moving up to 170 lbs is expected to benefit his performance, but JDM and his camp believe Makhachev will be undersized for a true welterweight.

It's one of the most compelling matchups of the year, pitting the elite grappling and dominance of Makhachev against the sharp, powerful striking of Della Maddalena in the champion's natural weight class.