UFC 322 Predictions & Odds – Della Maddalena vs Makhachev Main Card Picks

• Saturday’s UFC 322 from Madison Square Garden features two title fights on the main card
• Islam Makhachev is moving up to challenge welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena
• See the UFC 322 picks, predictions and odds below, plus the rest of my main card bets

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It might be the best card of 2025, and it’s going down at the Mecca. UFC 322 on Saturday features Islam Makhachev chasing double-champ status against Jack Della Maddalena, plus Zhang Weili moving up to face Valentina Shevchenko. Makhachev is a sizeable favorite at the moment, but the line is softer than it should be for good reason, as we’ll discuss.

The prelims are set to get underway from Madison Square Garden in New York at 6 PM ET, with the main card fights starting at 10 PM ET on ESPN+ PPV.

Here are my UFC 322 picks and predictions for my favorite fights on the card.

Della Maddalena vs Makhachev Prediction

Neither Della Maddalena nor Makhachev have fought at welterweight recently. In fact, Islam has never fought at 170 at all. JDM checks in as the champion, but that’s only because Islam vacated lightweight to chase double-champ status.

Makhachev’s last fight was in June, when he submitted Renato Moicano on short notice. He made it look easy, but that was at 155, where he usually has a size advantage.

⚡️Islam Makhachev vs Renato Moicano pic.twitter.com/VsFPRly0Bf

— Cage Pulse (@Cage_PulseMMA) November 1, 2025

JDM may be the slightly worse grappler in this bout, but he’s got a lot of things working for him.

Tale of the Tape

For starters, the Australian will have a size advantage. JDM is an inch taller and has a reach that is 2.5 inches longer. He’ll be able to throw combinations from a safer distance, and since he’s the better striker, he’s more likely to hurt Islam if they stay on their feet.

JDM’s takedown defense held up against Belal Muhammad, and he also enters the cage having faced elite grapplers before. This is a guy who broke his arm against Gilbert Burns and still managed to find the finish, showing championship heart that Islam hasn’t had to display yet.

Makhachev opened as a -265 favorite, but now he’s at -285. I think the fight will be closer than the odds imply, and it could reach the judges. That leads me to offer over 3.5 rounds at -135 odds for one of my top UFC 322 bets.

• Della Maddalena vs Makhachev Pick: Over 3.5 Rounds (-135)

Shevchenko vs Zhang Prediction

The UFC 322 co-main event features Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili, with Shevchenko listed as the slight favorite. Zhang, the strawweight champion, impressed in her last fight, beating Tatiana Suarez as a slight underdog.

Shevchenko is coming off two dull decision wins where she barely engaged. Against Manon Fiorot and Alexa Grasso, she seemed content to coast. Even in those wins, she was outstruck in significant strikes and seems to have lost the killer instinct that made her a champion.

Zhang isn’t a point fighter, but she’s more than capable of overwhelming Shevchenko with volume. I’m expecting her to push the pace and steal rounds with activity.

• Shevchenko vs Zhang Pick: Zhang by Decision (+275)

Brady vs Morales Prediction

One thing we do know about the Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales fight is that Brady is an elite wrestler. All of Morales’ UFC bouts have featured grappling exchanges, while Brady enters on the strength of dominant wrestling performances.

Brady is somehow only a -135 favorite, despite dominating everyone he’s faced recently. He controlled Gilbert Burns for five rounds, submitted Leon Edwards, and now has to deal with an undefeated prospect who has never faced this level of grappling.

You could wager on Brady to win by decision at even money, or you could bet on him to be the first fighter to submit Morales at much juicier odds.

• Brady vs Morales Pick: Brady by Submission (+400)

Edwards vs Prates Prediction

The Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates fight might be the most interesting one on the main card. Prates is a dangerous striker from Brazil who impressed last time by knocking out Jeff Neal with a spinning elbow.

CARLOS PRATES HAS KNOCKED OUT GEOFF NEAL WITH A SPINNING ELBOW IN THE FIRST ROUND😱😱😳😳WOW!!!! #UFC319 pic.twitter.com/10ZDjqvceu

— FEDZ_MMA (@Fedzmma) August 17, 2025

Edwards is coming off back-to-back losses where he looked completely outclassed. Belal Muhammad dominated him standing and on the ground. Sean Brady made him tap. Even in defeat, Edwards showed he’s lost a step, and has been figured out by the new generation of welterweights.

Prates isn’t a wrestler, but he’s more than capable of keeping this fight standing. I’m expecting he lands something big and finishes the former champion.

• Edwards vs Prates Pick: Prates by KO/TKO (+160)

Dariush vs Saint-Denis Prediction

We know one thing for sure about Beneil Dariush vs Benoit Saint-Denis fight: someone is going to get hurt. Dariush’s last two fights ended with him getting knocked out, while BSD comes in after two straight finishes.

Despite having a weak chin, Dariush is still only a +150 underdog. He’s been dropped in three of his last four fights, and now has to deal with a pressure fighter who has youth on his side.

You could bet on BSD to win at -180, or you could bet on the over 1.5 rounds at -166 for a less risky wager. I’m opting for the latter in my UFC 322 picks.

• Dariush vs Saint-Denis Pick: Over 1.5 Rounds (-166)

UFC 322 Odds – Full Card

Main Card

Prelims

Early Prelims

Odds as of November 12 at DraftKings. Check out the best UFC betting apps for UFC 322 on Saturday. Missouri residents will want to browse Missouri betting apps ahead of pre-launch.

In the UFC 322 odds, the biggest movement has been on Zhang Weili. She opened at +130 and has been bet down to +114. That’s most likely sharp money seeing value in an old champion.

Meanwhile, there’s been interesting movement in the UFC 322 preliminary odds. Pat Sabatini opened at -115 and has moved to -130 against Chepe Mariscal. When a grappler’s line moves like that, it usually means someone knows something about the matchup.

For Saturday, I’m targeting a UFC 322 parlay with Brady on the moneyline and the over 3.5 rounds in the main event. That combo pays out close to +200 and gives us two strong picks without having to lay heavy juice.