The UFC’s welterweight division is bracing for a seismic shake-up as two of the sport’s most intriguing storylines converge this autumn. Islam Makhachev, the former lightweight king, is set to make his highly anticipated debut at 170 pounds in a bid for immediate gold, while the division also welcomes the long-awaited arrival of Spanish phenom Joel Alvarez—both men poised to upend the established order in their own unique ways.
Fans and pundits alike are buzzing as UFC 322, scheduled for November 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, rapidly approaches. The main event features a blockbuster clash between reigning welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev, who vacated his lightweight belt earlier this year to pursue new challenges and bigger opponents. The co-main event is no less electrifying, with Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili set to square off, while Leon Edwards and Carlos Prates add further star power to a stacked main card. But it’s the main event that’s drawing the lion’s share of attention and debate.
Makhachev’s decision to leave the lightweight division behind was met with both excitement and skepticism. The Dagestani star, known for his suffocating grappling and relentless pressure, dominated at 155 pounds, but the welterweight waters are notoriously deep—and dangerous. His opponent, Jack Della Maddalena, isn’t just any champion. The Australian has blazed a trail through the division, capturing the welterweight title by defeating Belal Muhammad earlier in 2025 and notching a highlight-reel knockout of Gilbert Burns along the way. Della Maddalena’s combination of power, technical striking, and ironclad cardio has made him a nightmare matchup for many—and some believe Makhachev will be no exception.
One of those doubters is perennial lightweight contender Beneil Dariush, who recently shared his take with Helen Yee Sports. “I’m leaning now towards JDM (Jack Della Maddalena),” Dariush admitted. “I feel like the size will make the difference. Cardio-wise, JDM has great cardio. Maybe I’m wrong, I don’t know—this is all ‘feel’, this is one of the few fights where I can’t really give you a clear answer. So, I just think JDM will win it.” Dariush’s comments echo a growing sentiment among fighters and analysts who question whether Makhachev’s skill set will translate against true welterweights, especially one as physically imposing as Della Maddalena.
Makhachev, for his part, has remained focused amid the swirling opinions and has even found himself the subject of a surprise callout from a familiar adversary. More than seven years after the infamous post-fight brawl at UFC 229—where Makhachev was involved in a melee following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s win over Conor McGregor—one of the brawl’s victims has challenged him to settle their differences in the cage. The callout adds another layer of intrigue to Makhachev’s already headline-grabbing journey.
While the spotlight is firmly fixed on UFC 322’s main event, the undercard is stacked with hungry contenders eager to make their own statements. Bantamweight prospect Malcolm Wellmaker, riding a perfect 10-fight win streak including three consecutive first-round knockouts, faces his toughest test yet in Serhiy Sidey. Wellmaker, who burst onto the UFC scene via Dana White’s Contender Series, most recently dispatched Kris Moutinho at UFC Atlanta and looks to crack the bantamweight Top 15 with another emphatic finish. Sidey, no slouch himself, enters the bout on the heels of back-to-back wins and hopes to derail the Wellmaker hype train. The winner could find themselves knocking on the door of title contention sooner rather than later.
But before the Madison Square Garden fireworks, another welterweight storyline is set to unfold at UFC Rio on October 12, 2025. Joel Alvarez, long considered a giant among lightweights at 6’3”, finally makes his permanent move to welterweight after years of grueling weight cuts and near-misses at 155 pounds. Alvarez’s debut comes against seasoned Brazilian veteran Vicente Luque, who’s eager to reassert himself after a tough submission loss to Kevin Holland at UFC 316 in June.
Alvarez’s reputation as a finisher precedes him: 25 professional fights, 22 wins—all by stoppage—and only one decision loss. His last outing, a spectacular first-round knockout of Drakkar Klose at UFC on ESPN 63, reminded fans just how dangerous he can be. “You often hear about how violent a sport Mixed Martial Arts can be, and I’m not sure that one fighter can better encapsulate that more than the Spaniard killer that is Joel Alvarez,” observed one analyst. With his size and finishing instincts, Alvarez has been dubbed the new ‘Boogeyman’ of the welterweight division, and many believe he could rocket into title contention if he continues his winning ways.
Vicente Luque, however, isn’t buying into the hype. The Brazilian is determined to spoil Alvarez’s welterweight coming-out party in front of his home fans. “I’m going in there to get a big finish,” Luque declared. “I don’t know if it’s going to be a submission or a knockout. I think it’s going to be a knockout, I just feel it. The way I’ve been training, the hunger I have here in Brazil. I see a knockout coming, but we’ll see. I’m going to be pushing for a finish. If I see a submission, I will definitely jump for it, as well.” Luque’s record stands at 23 wins, 11 losses, and one draw, and he’s known for his own aggressive style and penchant for stoppages.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for both men. For Alvarez, a successful debut could instantly install him as a top contender in a division teeming with talent. For Luque, a win in Rio could reignite his campaign for welterweight relevance and silence those who question his durability after recent setbacks.
As the UFC welterweight picture shifts, the division’s established stars and newcomers alike are jockeying for position. With Makhachev’s daring leap into a new weight class, Della Maddalena’s quest to cement his reign, and Alvarez’s arrival as a potential title threat, fans can expect fireworks in the weeks ahead. The only thing certain is that the welterweight landscape will look very different by the time the dust settles—and the world will be watching every twist and turn.
With UFC Rio about to kick off in Brazil and UFC 322 looming large in New York, the welterweight division is set for a series of battles that could define the next era of mixed martial arts. Whether it’s the arrival of new contenders or the defense of hard-won titles, the coming months promise drama, violence, and plenty of surprises inside the Octagon.
