Islam Makhachev and Valentina Shevchenko both retained their UFC titles at UFC 322, while several fighters were given medical suspensions following their defeats in New York
08:15 ET, 19 Nov 2025Updated 08:15 ET, 19 Nov 2025
Leon Edwards lost at UFC 322(Image: Getty Images)
Following the conclusion of UFC 322 this past weekend, Leon Edwards and two other UFC fighters have been suspended until the new year.
Saturday saw Islam Makhachev become a two-division UFC champion after he dominated Jack Della Maddalena at Madison Square Garden in New York. Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her flyweight title against Zhang Weili in the co-main event.
Both champions, along with Della Maddalena, have been given short medical suspensions, while Weili has been banned for 30 days pending clearance from a primary care provider. Elsewhere in MMA, Conor McGregor is edging closer to making a comeback.
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Meanwhile, on the main card at UFC 322, Sean Brady was knocked out in the first round by Michael Morales, and Edwards suffered his third consecutive defeat after being knocked out by Carlos Prates. In the opening bout of the main card, Benoit Saint Denis took just 16 seconds to knock out Beneil Dariush.
The three aforementioned losers are expected to be out of action for several months. They have since been suspended for 90 days by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) and will need clearance from a neurologist before they can return to the stage.
It’s entirely normal for fighters to receive medical suspensions following a demanding bout, though competitors typically resume fighting far sooner once physicians clear them. These suspensions are merely precautionary in most instances.
Edwards will not fight again until 2026 at the earliest(Image: Getty Images)
Rodolfo Vieira is the sole other combatant to be handed a 90-day suspension after suffering a knockout loss to middleweight contender Bo Nickal during the preliminary bouts.
Edwards must now regroup after displaying flashes of his previous form. The ex-welterweight titleholder has experienced a difficult period since surrendering his championship to Belal Muhammad in July 2024.
The English fighter was submitted by Brady in the UFC London main event earlier this year. On Saturday, Edwards likely secured the opening round, controlling the initial five minutes with his technical grappling and leg strikes.
Yet he was knocked unconscious by a straight left from Prates barely 60 seconds into round two. Regarding what lies ahead for ‘Rocky,’ his prospects remain unclear.
Following the British fighter’s defeat, UFC president Dana White commented: “That was a rough one tonight. I don’t know [where he goes from here].
“Leon will go home and take some time off. And then we’ll get back with him and see what he’s thinking, and we’ll see where his head is at and go from there.”
The veteran promoter added: “I have no idea [if his best days are behind him.]
“There was a lot of buzz on this card. And you know why? Because every one of these fights was bad— tonight. That’s why. And anything can happen when you get in there and start mixing it up with the best in the world.”