Welcome back to “Breaking Down The Bout,” where we discuss recent events in the combat sports world. Today, we’ll be talking about Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 322 and its biggest match-ups. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the sport or you know nothing about it at all, don’t worry, you’re in the right place!
Background and Context
Those who have never watched a UFC event in their life may be wondering, “Why are there always random numbers within the headline of the event?” To clear up any confusion, the numbers represent how many UFC events there have been. So, UFC 322 was the 322nd numbered event in the company’s history. Additionally, the UFC will hold smaller events apart from the numbered ones; however, these are usually more obscure and don’t include well known fighters. Ultimately, if it has a number in it, it’s usually a big deal for the sport.
Buildup
The main and biggest bout within the UFC 322 event on November 15th was for the Championship belt at 170 pounds. The matchup was between the defending champion Jack Della Maddalena and the challenger Islam Makhachev. It gained attention months before because Makhachev, who is widely regarded as one of the most successful mixed martial artists of all time, was leaving his previous weight class (155lbs) where he held the belt, to challenge the champion in the weight class above. This means he was seeking “double champ” status by attempting to get the belt at 170 pounds as well. However, the underdog, Maddalena, was looking to defend his championship status. While not nearly as accomplished as Makhachev in the sport, Maddalena still possesses great skills, particularly his aggressive boxing style.
The Bout
The Russian native, Makhachev, entered the octagon in a calm and collected manner, while the Australian Maddalena appeared to have an angry demeanor. As soon as the bell rang, Maddalena was already moving forward on Makhachev. Things were looking decent for the Aussie fans, until Makhachev grabbed one of the Champion’s legs, taking him down to the canvas. The challenger’s extraordinary strength and superior wrestling allowed him to control the Champion and land strikes from atop. Dominantly, the other rounds went in a similar fashion, with Makhachev in complete control. Whatever technique he used, he managed to get the Champion down and was able to stay in control for the majority of the round. The only issue for Makhachev was that at the beginning of every round, they started on their feet, where Maddalena seemed to have the clear upper-hand. However, it didn’t matter; Makhacev was easily able to avoid the boxing from Maddalena and ended up unanimously winning every round. While some were disappointed in the uncompetitive fight, many also respected the complete masterclass from Islam Makhachev.
Conclusion
While Makhachev became the 11th athlete in history to be a UFC “double champ,” there were still other very notable bouts that occurred at UFC 322. The women’s 125 pound championship bout between Valentina Shevchenko and Weili Zhang ended in a dominant win for the defending champ, Shevchenko. Additionally, a 170 pound bout between Carlos Prates and Leon Edwards resulted in a stunning knockout victory for Prates. Ultimately, the UFC 322 event will go down easily as one of the most notable ones of the year. Additionally, it has set up many anticipated future match-ups, such as Makhachev vs Topuria, which would be the two highest ranked fighters in the world competing against each other.
Thank you for tuning into “Breaking Down the Bout.” What do you think is next for the athletes who were in the event? Let me know by leaving a comment below!
