VeChain UFC 322, held at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday, November 15, 2025, delivered a night of high-stakes mixed martial arts, headlined by two monumental championship bouts. The event was poised to be historic, featuring former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s move up to welterweight to challenge champion Jack Della Maddalena, and a highly anticipated women’s flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili. The main card saw a mix of dominant decisions and electrifying, quick-fire knockouts, culminating in a changing of the guard in the welterweight division.The Main Event: Welterweight ChampionshipIslam Makhachev defeats Jack Della Maddalena (c) via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)The championship headliner saw former lightweight king Islam Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) challenge the reigning welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in a quest for two-division glory. The fight was a near-perfect showcase of Dagestani-style grappling dominance, answering all questions about Makhachev’s ability to compete at 170 pounds.The Dominant PerformanceFrom the opening bell, the challenger executed his game plan with clinical precision. Makhachev, known for his relentless wrestling, was immediately successful in bridging the distance and securing takedowns. Della Maddalena, an elite striker who entered the bout on an 18-fight winning streak (14 finishes), found himself repeatedly nullified on the ground.Round 1: Makhachev established control early, securing his first takedown at the 1:30 mark. He quickly moved to the champion’s back, threatening with a rear-naked choke and delivering punishing ground-and-pound. Della Maddalena survived, but the tone of the fight was set.Rounds 2 & 3: The pattern continued. Makhachev’s entries for takedowns were flawless, pinning the Australian against the cage and then transitioning to top control. While threatening submissions like kimuras and arm locks, his primary objective was control and attrition. The Russian amassed significant control time, stifling the champion’s offense entirely.Rounds 4 & 5: By the fourth round, Makhachev’s mixed attack began to show its effects. His constant pressure, combined with sharp jabs and debilitating calf kicks landed during the brief striking exchanges, visibly hampered Della Maddalena’s movement. The champion was unable to generate the space or momentum needed for his trademark boxing. In the fifth, Della Maddalena managed to land a solid right hand in an exchange, but Makhachev instantly responded with another takedown, riding out the remainder of the round on top.Historic SignificanceThe final scorecards read a clean sweep of 50-45 across the board for Islam Makhachev, who claimed the UFC welterweight title. With this victory, he became the 11th fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two weight classes, joining an exclusive club that includes legends like Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes, and Jon Jones. Furthermore, the win extended Makhachev’s incredible unbeaten streak to 16 consecutive victories, tying the long-standing UFC record held by Hall of Famer Anderson Silva.Makhachev’s post-fight sentiment reflected his ease in the new division: “No cut weight and I can do whatever I want over five rounds. I made this fight look so easy.” The welterweight division has a formidable new champion, and the MMA world now awaits his first title defense in 2026.Co-Main Event: Women’s Flyweight ChampionshipValentina Shevchenko (c) defeats Zhang Weili via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)In a highly touted “super fight” between the top two women’s pound-for-pound fighters, flyweight queen Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko (26-4-1 MMA, 15-3-1 UFC) successfully defended her title against former two-time strawweight champion Zhang Weili (26-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC).The Technical MasterclassShevchenko, the betting favorite, demonstrated her superior technical depth and tactical brilliance over five methodical rounds. She expertly neutralized Weili’s explosive power and relentless aggression, refusing to let the challenger close the distance effectively without paying a heavy price.Tactical Control: The Kyrgyzstani champion employed superior range control, utilizing precise kicks and knees to keep Zhang on the outside. When Zhang attempted to crash the distance, Shevchenko immediately engaged the clinch, where her strength and technique shone, shutting down the challenger’s wrestling attempts.Ground Dominance: Similar to the main event, the fight featured significant mat control from the champion. Shevchenko executed several well-timed trips and takedowns, dominating large portions of Rounds 2 and 4 from the top position.Stats Tell the Story: Shevchenko’s output was significantly higher, outperforming Weili in total strikes landed (145-78) while remaining defensively sound.All three judges scored the bout 50-45 in favor of Shevchenko, who retained her title and extended her reign of dominance. The victory firmly cements her status as the No. 1 ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter.Main Card Knockout FrenzyThe undercard of the main event featured an explosive trio of bouts, with three straight fights ending via devastating knockout or TKO, generating massive buzz in the arena.Welterweight Bout: Michael Morales vs. Sean BradyMichael Morales defeats Sean Brady via TKO (Punches) at 3:27 of Round 1In a pivotal welterweight contest, rising star Michael Morales (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) delivered the most emphatic performance of his career, handing the highly-regarded Sean Brady (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) his first professional loss.First-Round Destruction: From the opening bell, Morales’ superior length and striking power were overwhelming. He repeatedly tagged Brady from long range, dropping him with a clean shot. The Ecuadorian prospect followed up on the canvas, finishing the job with a relentless barrage of punches.Impact: The dominant first-round TKO vaulted Morales into the welterweight Top 5 conversation, earning him his third straight first-round finish and making a huge statement in the division.Welterweight Bout: Leon Edwards vs. Carlos PratesCarlos Prates defeats Leon Edwards via KO (Left Hand) at 1:28 of Round 2Carlos “The Nightmare” Prates (19-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) shocked the crowd with a brutal knockout of former welterweight champion Leon Edwards (23-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC).Statement Finish: Edwards, despite controlling the first round by utilizing his grappling to slow the pace, was caught early in the second. Prates successfully lured the former champion into a striking exchange in the center of the cage. Prates connected with a perfectly timed, straight left hand that sent Edwards crashing to the mat, marking the first KO loss of Edwards’ celebrated career.Bonus Earning Performance: Prates, who earned a Performance of the Night bonus, immediately injected himself into the title picture with this highlight-reel finish.Lightweight Bout: Beneil Dariush vs. Benoît Saint DenisBenoît Saint Denis defeats Beneil Dariush via KO (Punch) at 0:16 of Round 1The main card opened with a light-speed knockout that sent a clear message to the lightweight division. Benoît “The God of War” Saint Denis (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) made quick work of the tough veteran Beneil Dariush (24-5-1 MMA, 16-5-1 UFC).Lightning Fast Finish: Dariush landed an early leg kick, briefly knocking Saint Denis off balance, but the Frenchman instantly countered. He closed the distance and landed a crushing left hand in the clinch just 16 seconds into the fight, sending Dariush collapsing forward.Historic Knockout: This explosive finish was the sixth-fastest knockout in the history of the UFC lightweight division and also earned Saint Denis a Performance of the Night bonus, establishing him as a clear contender in the lightweight Top 10.VeChain UFC 322 Main Card Results SummaryWeight ClassWinnerMethodRoundTimeNotesWelterweight TitleIslam MakhachevDecision (Unanimous)55:00Makhachev captures the Welterweight Championship; ties Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive wins.Women’s Flyweight TitleValentina Shevchenko (c)Decision (Unanimous)55:00Shevchenko successfully defends the Flyweight Championship.WelterweightMichael MoralesTKO (Punches)13:27Morales scores his 3rd straight first-round finish.WelterweightCarlos PratesKO (Punches)21:28Prates earns a Performance of the Night bonus.Catchweight (157.2 lb)Benoît Saint DenisKO (Punch)10:16Saint Denis earns a Performance of the Night bonus.VeChain UFC 322 lived up to its billing as a historic card, creating a new two-division champion in Islam Makhachev and providing some of the most spectacular knockouts of the year. The welterweight and lightweight divisions are now radically reshaped as the UFC heads into 2026.
