Islam Makhachev opens as sizable betting favorite in UFC 322 main event

Islam Makhachev is favored to become a two-division UFC champion.

UFC CEO Dana White recently announced that the former lightweight champ is set to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight championship in the main event of UFC 322, the UFC’s annual show at Madison Square Garden in New York takes place Nov. 15.

Advertisement

According to FanDuel, Makhachev opened as a sizable betting favorite to add the 170-pound title to his incredible list of accomplishments. After vacating the lightweight belt in pursuit a second title, Makhachev is the -260 favorite to get the job done at MSG, while the comeback on Della Maddalena is +196.

Della Maddalena cashed in on his first attempt to become a UFC champ, defeating Belal Muhammad in one of the best fights of the year to cap off UFC 315 in May. The 28-year-old enters his first title defense with 18 consecutive victories.

Makhachev moved on from the lightweight title after successfully defending it four times. The 33-year-old brings a 15-fight win streak in to the matchup, including three straight stoppage wins over Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano to cap off his reign at the top of one of the sport’s deepest divisions.