The greatest show in sports rolls into "The World's Most Famous Arena" for its annual November spectacle. Headlining the card is a twin-championship super fight: Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-3) defends his belt against Lightweight champion and consensus pound-for-pound great Islam Makhachev (26-1).
This is a monumental clash of champions. Makhachev is trying to become a two-division champion, and in the process, would tie Anderson Silva's iconic record for most consecutive UFC wins at 15. Della Maddalena, six months into his title reign, is fighting to prove he is the legitimate Welterweight king and defend his home territory against one of the sport’s all-time elites. This bout will define the legacies of both men.
Match Details and Context
- Date: Saturday, November 15th, 2025
- Match Time: 4:30 AM UTC (Approximate time for main event walkouts)
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA
- Stakes: Undisputed UFC Welterweight Championship (Five Rounds)
- Context: Della Maddalena makes his first defence of the welterweight title six months after winning it against Islam Makhachev, the reigning lightweight champion, who moves up to 170 pounds in pursuit of history.
Jack Della Maddalena: The Welterweight Champion
Della Maddalena represents one of the most complete and high-paced fighters on the roster, consistently finding new gears with every outing and steadily asserting himself as a true champion.
Record & Momentum: Della Maddalena comes in at 18-3 overall. He cemented his position as undisputed Welterweight Champion after defending his interim title with a gritty, hard-fought win that saw him take the all-important fifth round against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315.
Fighting Style: Characterised by high-volume striking, superior boxing, and conditioning, he is the "living embodiment of 'jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than one,'" skilled in every facet and known for excelling as the fight gets "grittier."
Key Advantage: This is his natural weight class. His size, pace, and proven ability to maintain output into the championship rounds could challenge Makhachev's conditioning at a heavier weight.
The Narrative: Della Maddalena wants to defend his turf against an all-time great and prove that divisions exist for a reason; he is not ready to cede his throne to anyone.
Islam Makhachev: The Lightweight King Seeking Two-Division Glory
Makhachev is widely regarded as the best lightweight in UFC history and is currently ranked as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.
Record and Momentum: Makhachev (26-1) has won 14 fights in a row, which is one less than Anderson Silva's record. He is the Lightweight Champion right now and has a lot of experience in five-round championship fights under a lot of pressure.
Fighting Style: A terror on the mat with generational-level wrestling and crushing top control, plus submission skills that can end a fight. His strikes are sharp enough to punish mistakes and set up his world-class takedowns without any problems.
Key Challenge: For the first time in his UFC career, he had to move up an entire weight class and fight a proven champion in his prime, which meant he had to deal with the natural size and strength disadvantage.
The Story: Makhachev wants to join the small group of UFC champions who have won in two divisions and set a new record for most consecutive wins to become an all-time great.
Tale of the Tape
The tale of the tape illustrates the stylistic conflict, with Makhachev giving up natural size and reaching the champion.
| Statistic | Jack Della Maddalena (JDM) | Islam Makhachev (MAK) |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 18-3-0 | 26-1-0 |
| Age (Approx.) | 29 | 33 |
| Height (Approx.) | 5' 11" | 5' 10" |
| Reach (Approx.) | 73" | 70.5" |
| Stance | Orthodox | Southpaw |
| Title | Welterweight Champion | Lightweight Champion |
Current Betting Odds via Stake.com and Bonus Offers
Still the betting favourite despite the move up in weight class, Islam Makhachev has shown historical dominance, and his skill set should translate seamlessly to the Welterweight division.
| Market | Jack Della Maddalena | Islam Makhachev |
|---|---|---|
| Winner Odds | 3.15 | 1.38 |
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Conclusion of the Match
Prediction and Final Analysis
This is framed as the great striker vs. grappler chess match with an added twist of weight class. Makhachev will be wholly reliant on his ability to impose his superior grappling and pressure early to neutralise the champion's relentless striking pace. Della Maddalena has proven cardio and boxing, but to stop an all-time great like Makhachev's takedown for 25 minutes is a monumental ask in historical context, let alone at his natural weight. The most likely path to victory for Makhachev is via control, securing a submission or stoppage from ground-and-pound.
- Tactical Expectation: Makhachev will pressure forward immediately, looking to clinch and drag the fight to the mat along the cage. Della Maddalena will rely on outstanding footwork and volume boxing in hopes of punishing Makhachev severely on the entry to force him to stand.
- Prediction: Islam Makhachev wins by Submission, round 4.
Who will become the Champion of the Match?
It's one of the most consequential matchups in recent UFC memory, setting in stone the legacy of Makhachev and the future of the Welterweight division in the process. The established, grappling-focused greatness of the lightweight champion against the sharp, conditioned power of the new welterweight king-what more could one ask for? History goes down in Madison Square Garden.
