Various UFC fighters and respected MMA figures have given their UFC 322 predictions for Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev this Saturday night in New York.
The likes of Khamzat Chimaev, Alexander Volkanovski, Paddy Pimblett and several others have all given their Della Maddalena vs Makhachev predictions for the UFC 322 main event this weekend at Madison Square Garden.
With that in mind, here at SportsCasting we have compiled all UFC 322 predictions into one place ahead of the penultimate UFC pay-per-view show of the year.
Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev Predictions
UFC 322 takes centre-stage on Saturday, November 15 in what is the penultimate UFC pay-per-view event of the year before the new broadcast deal with Paramount+ officially begins in January.
Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev headlines UFC 322 for the UFC Welterweight Title, with ‘JDM’ hoping to make a successful first defence of his belt after dethroning Belal Muhammad last time out.
UFC 322 marks Makhachev’s first fight up at welterweight, having vacated the 155-pound title in favour of a move up in weight in an attempt to become a two-division UFC champion.
Makhachev is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the world alongside the likes of Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira. The Dagestani fighter is ranked at #2 in the latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings, and could leapfrog ‘El Matador’ into pole position with a win at UFC 322 this weekend.
All Islam Makhachev stats point towards another victory this weekend at UFC 322, but he is up against bigger fighters who hit a lot harder now up at 170-pounds. Della Maddalena vs Makhachev for the welterweight belt is an intriguing match-up in the UFC 322 main event for sure.
Ahead of UFC 322, a wide range of fighters and respected MMA figures have weighed-in with their JDM vs Makhachev predictions.
This includes reigning middleweight king Khamzat Chimaev, two-time UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski, former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping, Paddy Pimblett, Michael Chandler and others.
Below are all UFC 322 predictions from several highly respected names in MMA.
UFC 322 Predictions and Industry Picks
Alexander Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski was a 214-pound rugby player before turning to MMA, where he has since become an all-time great and one of the best featherweight fighters of all time.
The Australian is yet to have his next fight announced, but is set to return to the octagon in early 2026. In the meantime, Volkanovski has been giving his thoughts and feelings on upcoming UFC clashes.
That includes UFC 322, with ‘The Great’ giving his very own Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev prediction. The two-time UFC featherweight king is backing his fellow Aussie to retain his belt and beat the former UFC lightweight champion:
“JDM’s boxing and pressure is incredible. He can definitely get a finish. Islam’s great. Him moving up, I still think, is a nightmare for a lot of the people in the division. But I think JDM can do it,” the Australian MMA superstar told Submission Radio.
Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev is officially signed for UFC 325, so it won’t be long until the greatest featherweight fighter of all time is back inside the octagon. In the meantime, his UFC 322 pick will be a popular one.
Khamzat Chimaev
Reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev is another fighter who has weighed-in with his UFC 322 thoughts and a prediction for the Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev main event.
Having previously competed in the welterweight division at the beginning of his UFC career, Chimaev knows a thing or two about the 170-pound division.
Now up at middleweight, the Russian-Emirati fighter doesn’t have to worry about the likes of ‘JDM’ or Makhachev, but has still given his thoughts on the fight and an official UFC 322 prediction.
Although Chimaev admitted that both men are strong fighters, he feels that the challenger has the slight edge and is picking Makhachev to win the UFC 322 main event at MSG on Saturday night:
“Jack or Islam? I think Islam, we will see. Both are good fighters.
“Islam moving up is interesting to see how he’s gonna do but I think Islam will win, he’s gonna use his wrestling more in this fight,” Chimaev revealed in a social media video.
There are rumours that Alex Pereira will try to defend his UFC Light-Heavyweight Title against Khamzat Chimaev next, but for the time being ‘Borz’ will remain a middleweight as he seeks his first challenge since becoming king of the 185-pound division.
Khamzat Chimaev picks Islam Makhachev to beat JDM at #UFC322 💪👊
"I think Islam. Both are interesting fighters. Islam moving up is interesting. I think Islam is gonna use more of his wrestling in this fight." pic.twitter.com/OQcrEZxa1y
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) November 9, 2025
Paddy Pimblett
Paddy Pimblett is waiting patiently for his shot at the UFC Lightweight Title, with the Liverpudlian having not fought since defeating Michael Chandler last time out at UFC 314 back in April.
The 30-year-old has been calling for a fight with anyone ranked above him at 155-pounds, but is yet to have a fight pencilled in. There have been rumours that Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett is signed for UFC 324 in January, but an official announcement from UFC President Dana White is yet to come.
In the meantime, Pimblett has happily given his thoughts on other fights happening in the world of MMA. This includes this weekend’s UFC 322 card in New York, headlined by Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev for the UFC Welterweight Title.
In a recent interview with UFC Europe, Pimblett gave his thoughts and feelings on the UFC 322 main event and how he sees JDM vs Makhachev playing out:
“I hope JDM absolutely punches his little head in. Yeah, I hope JDM batters him.
“I think JDM is a much better boxer, and if he can keep it on his feet, then he will absolutely batter him, and I hope he does,“ concluded ‘The Baddy’ with his confident pre-fight UFC 322 prediction.
Robert Whittaker
Former UFC middleweight king Robert Whittaker called out Sean Strickland for UFC White House next year, but in the meantime has also been giving his thoughts and predictions on upcoming fights in the UFC.
This includes Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev in the UFC 322 main event, with ‘Bobby Knuckles’ revealing his pick for the main event at Madison Square Garden on November 15.
The Australian MMA superstar knows that ‘JDM’ will have to be at his best and will be in for a super tough night in New York, but has full faith that he will retain his UFC Welterweight Title and beat the dominant Makhachev:
“I think Islam can do everything Belal [Muhammad] does, but way better,” Whittaker told Submission Radio.
“I don’t think it’ll be an easy fight for Jack, but I believe in Jack. He’s got that X-factor, he’s got that hunger, he’s got the ticker. Just like with Belal and Gilbert Burns before, I think he can do the impossible,” Whittaker concluded with his UFC 322 prediction in favour of the defending 170-pound champion.
Michael Chandler
Lightweight contender Michael Chandler is another fighter who has given his thoughts and prediction for the UFC 322 main event on Saturday night from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
There is a chance that Chandler will headline UFC White House on June 14 against Conor McGregor, if indeed the Irishman returns to the octagon and faces the American once and for all after years of speculation and false promises.
In the meantime, Chandler has given his Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev pick ahead of this weekend’s UFC Welterweight Title fight.
The #12 ranked 155-pound contender feels UFC 322 will be a close main event, but he is giving the marginal edge to the champion:
“It’s going to be interesting. I think Islam’s going to get tagged up a couple times, and we’re going to see if he goes to that wrestling pretty quick.
“But I think JDM’s a monster. I give JDM the slight nod on that one, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Islam is holding that belt,” Chandler told Ariel Helwani in a recent interview.
Dan Hardy
Dan Hardy’s UFC 322 prediction for the Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev main event is certainly a bullish one.
The former UFC fighter turned analyst and podcaster feels that Saturday night could turn out to be a successful one for the champion, predicting that ‘JDM’ will come out on top against the formidable Makhachev.
Although Hardy feels Makhachev is the more accomplished fighter and is close to unbeatable down at lightweight, he has questions over his welterweight move and whether it could be detrimental to his performance inside the octagon:
“I don’t think Jack Della Maddalena is going to lose the belt to Islam Makhachev,” Hardy told Submission Radio in a recent interview.
“I think Makhachev holds the lightweight belt against anybody in the world on any day, including Ilia Topuria. But JDM looked very sharp against Belal,” Hardy concluded.
Dan Hooker
Dan Hooker’s UFC 322 prediction for the Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev main event is certainly a bullish one.
As an Australian MMA fighter himself, it comes as no surprise to learn that the #The 7 ranked lightweight contender is backing his fellow countryman to get the job done in the UFC 322 main event.
Hooker feels that there will be a huge size difference on the night in the cage, which is the main reason he gives the advantage to ‘JDM’ and is siding with his fellow Aussie with his UFC 322 pick.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports ahead of UFC 322, Hooker explained his reasoning for picking Della Maddalena to defeat Makhachev:
“I think Jack, just because of the size advantage. Being the bigger, stronger guy, it’s effective if you can make the other fighter carry your weight.
“Jack being the bigger guy, I feel like the longer that the fight goes, Islam’s not used to carrying that same amount of weight into deep waters.
“JDM, I feel like there’s no one better than him right now at welterweight. And I see him winning this fight,” Hooker concluded.
‘Hangman’ was granted his wish of a big fight next after Hooker called out Arman Tsarukyan on countless occasions, with Tsarukyan vs Hooker headlining the weekend after UFC 322 in the next UFC Fight Night show.
Belal Muhammad
Former UFC welterweight king Belal Muhammad has of course shared the octagon with Jack Della Maddalena. The American of course lost his 170-pound belt at the hands of ‘JDM’, so knows first hand just how good he is.
That being said, Muhammad isn’t convinced that the Australian can overcome the dominant Dagestani-style wrestling and grappling that Makhachev possessed. For that reason, Muhammad is siding with the challenger in his UFC 322 pick:
“I think Islam can finish him on the ground, for sure. JDM makes mistakes on the ground,” Muhammad told Fight Bouts in a recent interview.
Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has also weighed-in with his UFC 322 predictions for all of the fights on the main card.
This includes the Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev main event, which is a fight that is truly dividing opinion amongst MMA fans.
“This is going to be a great fight. I’m going to go with the underdog,” Bisping told his 2million+ Instagram followers.
“Jack Della Maddalena just beat Belal Muhammad by decision. I say he’s going to beat Islam Makahchev via decision too.
“Best of luck to both men but I think Jack Della Maddalena wins via decision,” Bisping told his Instagram followers.
