UFC 322 live results: Two title superfights from MSG
The UFC’s yearly trip to the World’s Most Famous Arena is upon us as Madison Square Garden in New York City hosts UFC 322.
The main event is a superfight for the UFC welterweight championship as current champion Jack Della Maddalena defends for the first time against former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Della Maddalena is coming off a win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in which he became the man to beat at 170 pounds while also extending his win streak to 17 straight. Makhachev vacates the lightweight title in order to move up and is looking to improve on a 15-fight win streak after submitting Renato Moicano at UFC 311.
The co-main event is another superfight as UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko defends against former UFC women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili. Shevchenko is coming off a title defense over Manon Fiorot at UFC 315 while Weili vacates the 115-pound title following five straight wins.
The rest of the main card is stacked with ranked fighters as Sean Brady takes on Michael Morales in a welterweight bout; former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards battles Carlos Prates; and a lightweight fight between Beneil Dariush and Benoit Saint-Denis kicks off the main card.
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> Lightweights- Viacheslav Borshchev (8-6-1, 3-5-1 UFC) vs. Matheus Camilo (9-3, 0-1 UFC)
Camilo lands a left hook. Borshchev with a leg kick. They trade and Camilo gets a takedown, but Borshchev is able to force it to the feet. Camilo has body control against the fence, but Borshchev is able to cause a break. Camilo lands a jab that backs Borshchev up. Camilo lands a leg kick and they trade combos inside the pocket. Camilo scores a takedown. Camilo lands some body shots from inside the guard. Borshchev forces it to the feet. 10-9 Camilo.
They trade jabs and Camilo lands a leg kick. Borshchev lands a flurry as Camilo is circling around. Camilo lands a right hand and scores a takedown. Camilo gets the back but reverses to the top and is in the mount. Camilo is looking to set up an arm-triangle choke. They scramble to the feet and separate. Camilo scores a takedown but they quickly get to their feet. Borshchev lands a leg kick and a combo to the body. Borshchev lands more to the body and Camilo lands a left hand. Borshchev lands a left hand. 10-9 Camilo, 20-18 Camilo.
They trade jabs as Borshchev is pressing forward. They trade combinations in close range. Camilo lands a solid right hand. Camilo shoots for a takedown but Borshchev defends it. Borshchev with a combo and lands a body kick. Borshchev with front kicks. Borshchev lands a series of punches and a leg kick. Borshchev lands a left hand. Camilo rocks Borshchev with a right hand. Camilo with a heavy leg kick. Camilo scores a takedown. They roll and Borshchev ends up on top inside the guard of Camilo. Borshchev stands and lands leg kicks. Camilo gets up. Camilo lands a stiff right hand. Camilo with another right hand. Camilo with a brief late takedown. 10-9 Camilo, 30-27 Camilo.
Fight Result- Matheus Camilo def. Viacheslav Borshchev by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Baisangur Susurkaev (10-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Eric McConico (10-3-1, 1-1 UFC)
They immediately clinch against the fence and trade knees. They trade more knees with Susurkaev having control. McConico reverses and lands an elbow. They separate and McConico lands a short uppercut. Susurkaev lands a right hand. Susurkaev lands a leg kick as McConico lands a combo. McConico lands an elbow and a right hand as McConico forces Susurkaev against the fence. Susurkaev briefly gets a takedown and then scores another one. They keep going up and down as Susurkaev lands some knees to the thigh. McConico lands a left hand as they break. They trade late. 10-9 Susurkaev.
Susurkaev lands some big shots and a body kick early to start. Susurkaev lands a left hand. Susurkaev with a combo and a knee to the body. Susurkaev lands a right hand but McConico lands a groin strike and timeout is called. Susurkaev is able to continue. McConico with a short leg kick. Susurkaev lands a body kick and a right hand. They clinch as Susurkaev lands a knee to the body. McConico with some knees in the clinch. Susurkaev lands a body kick after a brief takedown. They clinch against the fence. They separate and Susurkaev is landing. McConico lands a big right hand. They tie up and hang onto each other. 10-9 Susurkaev, 20-18 Susurkaev.
Susurkaev lands a right hand as McConico lands a body kick. Susurkaev lands a pair of solid punches. Susurkaev lands a left hand and a front kick to the body. Susurkaev lands a groin strike and timeout is called. They get back going and they trade leg kicks. McConico with a jab. Susurkaev drops McConico with a massive right hand and it is all over! What a finish from Susurkaev!
Fight Result- Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric McConico by knockout (punch) at 1:38 of Round 3
> Women’s Strawweights- #12 Angela Hill (18-15, 13-15 UFC) vs. Fatima Kline (8-1, 2-1 UFC)
Kline lands a combo as Hill lands a leg kick. They trade before clinching and Kline scores a takedown and gets inside the full guard. Kline lands from the top as Hill throws some upkicks. They scramble to the feet but Kline maintains control. Kline lands a knee. They separate. Hill lands a calf kick. Kline lands a right hand. Kline lands a combination and a body kick. Kline lands a front kick and an uppercut. Kline scores a takedown and lands some elbows from the top. Kline lands from the top and Hill lands an upkick, but Kline gets into side control and looks for a kimura. 10-9 Kline.
Kline lands a knee and a body kick. Kline lands a solid right hand and another one as she is pouring it on with the punches. Kline with a body kick. Kline looks for a takedown as she pushes it against the fence. Kline lands a left hook as they separate. Kline landing with more volume as she’s mixing punches and kicks. Hill with a leg kick. They trade in close range as Hill is pressing forward. Kline lands a combo and they clinch. Hill with a knee. They trade knees. 10-9 Kline, 20-18 Kline.
Hill lands a right hand. Both working the jab and Kline lands a right hand. Kline with a combination. Kline working the jab. They trade inside the pocket. Kline with a front kick followed by a quick combo. Kline lands a jab as Hill lands a leg kick. Kline with some more jabs and a right hand. They trade as Hill forces a clinch against the fence. Kline scores a takedown. Kline working from the top and stands up. Kline trying to land as Hill is throwing upkicks. They get to their feet. Kline gets a takedown and lands a big flurry from the back. Kline has the body triangle on and is landing tons of punches. Kline hurts Hill with a right hand on the way up at the end. 10-9 Kline, 30-27 Kline.
Fight Result- Fatima Kline def. Angela Hill by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Featherweights- Pat Sabatini (20-5, 7-2 UFC) vs. Chepe Mariscal (18-6 1 NC, 5-0 UFC)
Sabatini lands a solid combination. Sabatini grabs a leg as Mariscal throws a kick and he gets Mariscal down to the ground. They scramble and Sabatini has the back as they stand. Sabatini drags it down and uses the butterfly to take full back control. Sabatini working for a choke from the back as he lands some short punches. Mariscal is able to reverse to the top. Mariscal gets to his feet and Sabatini stands. They both land before clinching. Sabatini misses a spin attack but lands a knee to the body. Mariscal lands a late head kick. 10-9 Sabatini.
They trade and Sabatini looks for a takedown against the fence as he has the back. Sabatini gets it down and has the back, but they get right up, though Sabatini keeps back control. Sabatini drags it back down. Mariscal scrambles but Sabatini is staying on offense. They scramble as Sabatini stays on top and Mariscal is throwing punches from the bottom. Sabatini is cut open, from the head kick at the end of the first. Sabatini with an elbow from the top. He lands another. They scramble to their feet. Sabatini looks for a takedown, but Mariscal defends and lands a knee. They trade and Sabatini lands a left hand. Sabatini gets a takedown and lands from the top to end the round. 10-9 Sabatini, 20-18 Sabatini.
Sabatini goes right for a takedown but Mariscal is able to escape. Sabatini drops down and scores a takedown. Sabatini takes the back and is landing as he has the hooks locked on. Sabatini is working for a choke but Mariscal is defending the hands. Sabatini keeping back control as he is landing and Mariscal has not found a way to escape. Mariscal is trying to roll out and Sabatini lands as they stand. 10-9 Sabatini, 30-27 Sabatini.
Fight Result- Pat Sabatini def. Chepe Mariscal by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Middleweights- Kyle Daukaus (16-4 1 NC, 3-4 1 NC UFC) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (37-20, 12-12 UFC)
Daukaus hurts Meerschaert with a left hand and then drops him with some follow-up shots. Daukaus looks for a D’Arce choke and has it locked in and Meerschaert taps! Daukaus picks up the big win.
Fight Result- Kyle Daukaus def. Gerald Meerschaert by submission (D’Arce choke) at :50 of Round 1
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> Featherweights- Malcolm Wellmaker (10-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Ethyn Ewing (8-2, 0-0 UFC)
Ewing with a high kick. Ewing lands a right hand. Ewing with an inside leg kick. Wellmaker lands a hard body kick. Wellmaker lands a right hand that hurts Ewing. They clinch and Wellmaker lands a knee. Ewing lands a right hand. They break apart. Ewing with a right hand. Wellmaker with a jab and a body kick. Wellmaker with a leg kick. They trade in close range. Wellmaker lands an elbow as they clinch. Ewing gets a takedown but they get right up. Ewing has the body lock. Wellmaker lands some knees in the clinch. Ewing lands a combo as they break. Wellmaker lands a body kick. Ewing with a flurry in close range. Ewing lands a pair of knees late. 10-9 Ewing.
They trade body kicks and then trade high kicks. Ewing works the jab. Wellmaker lands a right hand. Ewing pressuring and landing. Wellmaker lands a right hand and a leg kick then a right hook and another right hand. Ewing lands a combination against the fence. Ewing lands a right hand. Wellmaker with a left hand. Ewing lands a combo with a high kick. Wellmaker lands two big right hands. Ewing lands a right hand. Wellmaker lands a knee to the body and a right hand and Ewing is backing up. Ewing is running away as he is hurt. Ewing with a flurry inside the pocket. They trade in close range. Wellmaker pressing forward and lands to the body. Ewing with a brief takedown and lands a knee and a right hand. 10-9 Ewing, 20-18 Ewing.
Wellmaker lands a combination. They trade inside the pocket and Wellmaker lands a body kick. Wellmaker with a spin kick. Ewing lands a right hand. Wellmaker with a pair of jabs. Ewing lands a combination as they clinch up. Ewing has the back. They get back in front of each other and Wellmaker lands a knee. Wellmaker lands an uppercut. Wellmaker with a body kick as Ewing lands a right hand. Ewing with a flurry of shots. Wellmaker tries for a takedown but Ewing defends and lands an elbow. They trade in close range. Ewing gets a takedown but they scramble up and he has the back. Ewing with short right hands and they trade at the end. 10-9 Ewing, 30-27 Ewing.
Fight Result- Ethyn Ewing def. Malcolm Wellmaker by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
> Women’s Flyweights- #4 Erin Blanchfield (13-2, 7-1 UFC) vs. #8 Tracy Cortez (12-2, 6-1 UFC)
Both work the jab early on as Blanchfield lands an inside leg kick. Cortez with a combination. Blanchfield lands a right hand. Cortez with a jab and a right hand. Blanchfield counters with a leg kick. Blanchfield lands a right hand and Cortez lands a counter left hand. Blanchfield with a high kick and lands a combo as Cortez lands a knee. Blanchfield with a body kick and a combo. Blanchfield lands a jab. Cortez with a right hand and a knee as Blanchfield was coming in. Blanchfield with two right hands as Cortez lands a knee. They trade jabs and Blanchfield with a high kick. Cortez lands a left hand. They trade inside the pocket. Cortez works the jab. Cortez with a stiff jab as Blanchfield lands. Blanchfield lands a right hand. Close round. 10-9 Cortez.
They both rush to the center and land. Cortez with a left hook. Cortez scores a takedown. Blanchfield is able to reverse to the top and has body control as they stand. Blanchfield with short left hands. Blanchfield looks for the takedown but Cortez showing good defense as they separate. They trade combinations. Both landing at the same time. Cortez lands a body kick. Blanchfield with a hard body kick. Blanchfield scores a takedown and is inside the guard of Cortez. Blanchfield looking for an arm-triangle choke. Blanchfield gets the back and lands a flurry, though Cortez gets to her feet. Blanchfield still pressuring against the fence. Blanchfield gets another takedown and takes the back as they scramble up. Blanchfield has a choke locked in and Cortez taps! Blanchfield picks up the big win.
Fight Result- Erin Blanchfield def. Tracy Cortez by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:44 of Round 2
> Middleweights- Roman Kopylov (14-4, 6-4 UFC) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (17-6, 8-3 UFC)
Kopylov with a pair of leg kicks as Rodrigues lands a right hand. Rodrigues lands a jab. Rodrigues lands a right hand after Kopylov lands a leg kick. Rodrigues with a body kick. Rodrigues lands a combo. Rodrigues with a high kick. Rodrigues looks for a takedown but Kopylov defends. Rodrigues with some short punches as they separate. Kopylov lands a combination. Rodrigues lands a body kick. Rodrigues lands a solid right hand. Rodrigues lands a few punches mixed with a body kick. Rodrigues with an inside leg kick. Rodrigues with a knee to the body. Kopylov gets a big takedown but Rodrigues is able to push him off. Rodrigues with an upkick to the body. 10-9 Rodrigues.
Rodrigues lands and Kopylov scores a takedown. Rodrigues is attacking the leg but Kopylov is able to escape. Rodrigues shoots for a takedown as he pushes Kopylov against the fence. Rodrigues lands an uppercut and a combo after they’ve separated. Rodrigues with a right hand as Kopylov lands a jab. Kopylov grabs a Rodrigues kick and lands some right hands. Rodrigues lands a combo. Rodrigues lands to the body. They both land to the body. Rodrigues with some right hands and a knee to the body. Rodrigues with a jab and a body shot. Kopylov catches a Rodrigues kick and Rodrigues falls backwards and down but gets up and lands a right hand. They have a heavy exchange against the fence. Kopylov lands a head kick. 10-9 Rodrigues, 20-18 Rodrigues.
They both land in close range to start the third. Rodrigues with a right hand. He lands another. Kopylov tags Rodrigues with a left hand and Rodrigues was wobbly for a moment. Rodrigues lands a right hand. Rodrigues looked for a single leg but lets go. They trade as both are looking for openings. Kopylov lands a combo. They trade heavy punches. Kopylov lands a right hook. Kopylov lands a left hand. Rodrigues with a right hand. Rodrigues with a body kick and a right hand. Kopylov lands a high kick. Kopylov lands a combo and a high kick. 10-9 Kopylov, 29-28 Rodrigues.
Fight Result- Gregory Rodrigues def. Roman Kopylov by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Bo Nickal (7-1, 4-1 UFC) vs. Rodolfo Vieira (11-3, 6-3 UFC)
Nickal lands a body kick and a leg kick. Nickal grabs the body and slams Vieira down and starts landing big shots as Vieira is covering up as he gets to his feet. Nickal with some knees against the fence. Nickal lands an elbow. Vieira reverses and lands a pair of knees. They break apart. Vieira shoots for a takedown but Nickal grabs the neck and gets on top as they roll to the mat. Nickal has control as they work to the feet. Nickal with a big elbow on the break. Vieira with a pair of leg kicks. Nickal lands a pair of left hands and a high kick, then another left hand. Nickal lands a left hand. 10-9 Nickal.
Vieira lands a right hand. Nickal lands a left hand and a body kick. Nickal lands a solid combination. Nickal with a jab and a right hand as Vieira lands a leg kick. Nickal with another left hand and a double jab. Vieira lands a right hand but eats a four-punch counter from Nickal. Nickal lands a stiff jab. Vieira lands a right hand. Vieira looks for a takedown as he pushes Nickal against the fence. They separate. Nickal stuns Vieira with a left hand. Vieira shoots for a takedown but Nickal sprawls and lands. 10-9 Nickal, 20-18 Nickal.
Nickal lands a kick as Vieira lands a right hand. Nickal lands a leg kick. Nickal looks for a takedown but is unable to grab Vieira. Vieira lands a right hand to the body. Nickal with a left hand and then lands a head kick and Vieira goes down and is out cold! What a finish by Nickal!
Fight Result- Bo Nickal def. Rodolfo Vieira by knockout (head kick) at 2:24 of Round 3
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> Lightweights*- #9 Beneil Dariush (23-6-1, 16-6-1 UFC) vs. #13 Benoit Saint-Denis (15-3 1 NC, 7-3 UFC)
*Dariush missed weight by 1.2 pounds
Dariush lands a leg kick but then Saint-Denis lands a right hand and Dariush goes down face first out cold! Brutal knockout from Saint-Denis.
Fight Result- Benoit Saint-Denis def. Beneil Dariush by knockout (punch) at :16 of Round 1
> Welterweights- #4 Leon Edwards (22-5 1 NC, 14-4 1 NC UFC) vs. #9 Carlos Prates (22-7, 5-1 UFC)
Edwards lands a leg kick. Prates lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Edwards lands a left hand. Prates with a leg kick. Edwards shoots for a takedown and has the body lock against the fence. Prates lands a knee. They are separated after no action. Prates lands a knee to the body and a left hand. Edwards lands a leg kick. Edwards scores a takedown and gets the back of Prates as they scramble. Prates stands with Edwards on his back. Edwards landing some punches. Edwards gets Prates back down. Prates grabs the fence. Edwards looks for a choke but time runs out on the round. 10-9 Edwards.
Prates lands a leg kick. He lands another as Edwards lands a left hand. Prates with another leg kick. They trade left hands and Prates lands another leg kick followed by a jab. Prates drops Edwards with a left hand and a follow-up shot ends it! What a knockout by Prates!
Fight Result- Carlos Prates def. Leon Edwards by knockout (punch) at 1:28 of Round 2
> Welterweights- #2 Sean Brady (18-1, 8-1 UFC) vs. #8 Michael Morales (18-0, 6-0 UFC)
They both throw kicks early. Brady with a leg kick as Morales works the jab. Morales lands a jab as Brady comes forward. Brady lands a leg kick. Morales hurts Brady with a combination. Morales landing as Brady is hurt. Brady may have recovered. Morales lands a right hand. Brady lands a left hook. Morales lands a right hand. Morales lands a right hand and Brady falls to the mat and Morales starts landing from the top and it is stopped! What a finish from Morales!
Fight Result- Michael Morales def. Sean Brady by TKO (punches) at 3:27 of Round 1
> UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship- C Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1, 14-3-1 UFC) vs. #1 WSW Zhang Weili (26-3, 10-2 UFC)
Shevchenko with a short leg kick. Weili lands a right hand. Shevchenko lands a body kick. Weili lands a leg kick. Shevchenko with a left hand. Shevchenko lands a knee to the body and gets Weili down to the mat. They scramble up and Shevchenko lands a knee and Weili lands an elbow. Shevchenko lands a spinning back fist that hurts Weili as they clinch. Shevchenko gets a takedown into side control. They battle for position on the mat. Shevchenko ends the round on top. 10-9 Shevchenko.
Shevchenko lands a combination. They both land before Shevchenko grabs the body lock and scores a takedown. Shevchenko gets into side control and gets the crucifix position and lands. Shevchenko dominating from the top as she gets back inside the guard of Weili. Shevchenko lands from the top. Shevchenko ends the round landing from the top. 10-9 Shevchenko, 20-18 Shevchenko.
Shevchenko with a pair of body kicks. Weili lands a right hand. Shevchenko lands a jab as Weili was throwing. Shevchenko with a spin kick to the body. Weili lands a body kick and they tie up. They trade knees along the fence. Weili lands an elbow as they separate. Shevchenko lands a knee as Weili was coming forward. Weili throws a kick but Shevchenko grabs the body and gets a takedown. Shevchenko controlling and landing from the top. 10-9 Shevchenko, 30-27 Shevchenko.
Weili lands a body kick as Shevchenko lands a right hand. Shevchenko lands a body kick and Weili is backing up. Shevchenko lands another body kick. She lands a high kick now. Shevchenko grabs the Thai clinch and lands a knee to the body and head before letting go. Shevchenko lands a body kick and stuns Weili with a right hand. They clinch and Shevchenko gets it back down to the mat. Shevchenko lands from the top. 10-9 Shevchenko, 40-36 Shevchenko.
They tie up against the fence right away and trade position. Shevchenko lands a knee and Weili lands a right hand as they separate. Shevchenko lands a body kick. They tie back up. Weili lands an elbow but Shevchenko scores a takedown. Shevchenko lands from the top. Shevchenko controls from the top for the rest of the round and lands though Weili throws from the bottom. 10-9 Shevchenko, 50-45 Shevchenko.
Fight Result- Valentina Shevchenko def. Zhang Weili by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to retain the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship
> UFC Welterweight Championship- C Jack Della Maddalena (18-2, 8-0 UFC) vs. #1 LW Islam Makhachev (27-1, 16-1 UFC)
Makhachev lands a low kick. Maddalena fires some punches. Maddalena with a jab to the body as Makhachev lands some calf kicks. Makhachev scores a takedown. Makhachev lands from the top as he’s trying to pin an arm. They scramble to their feet but Makhachev has back control. Maddalena gets on his feet as Makhachev is still on the back. They go back to the mat and Maddalena lets Makhachev get into his half-guard. Makhachev is looking to attack the neck. Makhachev lands from the top as Maddalena throws upkicks. 10-9 Makhachev.
Makhachev with a calf kick. Makhachev with another leg kick. He lands a high kick. Maddalena lands a right hand as they clinch and Makhachev pushes it to the fence. Maddalena tries for a takedown but ends up on the bottom. Makhachev working from the half-guard and doing enough to keep Maddalena pinned on the bottom as Makhachev lands some shots. Makhachev has an arm-triangle kind of position but Maddalena gets out of it. Makhachev lands some elbows as they get up. 10-9 Makhachev, 20-18 Makhachev.
Makhachev lands a quick combo. Maddalena with a right hand. Makhachev lands a calf kick. Makhachev with another calf kick. Makhachev lands a combination. They clinch and Maddalena lands lots of punches as Makhachev lands a pair of knees and they break. Makhachev scores a takedown. Makhachev is in control but Maddaelna is trying to force separation. Makhachev lands some elbows. Maddalena scrambles up late. 10-9 Makhachev, 30-27 Makhachev.
Maddalena lands a pair of kicks. Makhachev lands a body kick. Makhachev with an inside leg kick. Makhachev with a body kick. Makhachev with a pair of right hands and a leg kick. Makhachev lands a combination and then gets a takedown. Makhachev is able to take the back and has the body triangle locked on. Maddalena is able to get Makhachev into his half-guard. Makhachev in total control from the top. They almost scramble up as Makhachev has control. 10-9 Makhachev, 40-36 Makhachev.
Maddalena tries to land but Makhachev ducks under and scores a takedown. Makhachev is looking for a kimura but Maddaelna gets it free. Makhachev working in the half-guard and landing from the top. Maddalena gets Makhachev inside of his guard. Makhachev attacks the neck. Maddalena is grimacing on the bottom. Makhachev looks for a D’Arce choke but Maddalena escapes. Makhachev gets back inside the guard of Maddalena. 10-9 Makhachev, 50-45 Makhachev.
Fight Result- Islam Makhachev def. Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to win the UFC Welterweight Championship
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter