{"id":274383,"date":"2025-11-10T14:47:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T14:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/274383\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T14:47:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T14:47:12","slug":"islam-makhachev-receives-gift-from-new-york-knicks-star-before-ufc-322-title-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/274383\/","title":{"rendered":"Islam Makhachev receives gift from New York Knicks star before UFC 322 title fight"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"57\">Islam Makhachev received a welcome gift from New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns ahead of his main event fight at UFC 322. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5a\">One of the biggest names on the UFC roster, Makhachev elected to vacate the promotion\u2019s lightweight belt following his fourth title defense earlier this year at UFC 311 in order to pursue championship glory in a second weight class.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5d\">The 34-year-old is slated to fight for the welterweight belt this weekend at UFC 322 against Jack Della Maddalena, which will close out a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mma\/news\/dana-white-just-announced-the-biggest-ufc-title-fights-of-the-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">stacked Madison Square Garden card<\/a> that also features a title bout between Valentina Shevchenko and Weili Zhang in the night\u2019s co-main event.<\/p>\n<p>Karl-Anthony Towns Gifts Knicks Jersey To Islam Makhachev<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5j\">The UFC\u2019s annual Madison Square Garden show is always one of the promotion\u2019s biggest events of the year, and UFC 322 is no exception given that both Makhachev and Zhang will be looking to make history and claim UFC titles in new weight classes. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5m\">READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mma\/news\/ufc-andrei-arlovski-brutal-knock-out-reality-tv-star-boxing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UFC legend brutally knocks out reality TV star in boxing debut<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5p\">Makhachev made it to New York City\u2019s iconic arena a week early to take in an NBA game between the New York Knicks and their crosstown rivals the Brooklyn Nets. Before tip-off, Knicks star Towns <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ufcontnt\/status\/1987843852577706029\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">gifted the former UFC lightweight champion<\/a> a personalized jersey featuring the number 322 to commemorate his headlining title fight with Della Maddalena. <\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Islam Makhachev getting a warm welcome at Madison Square Garden \ud83d\uddfd<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcf9: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nyknicks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@nyknicks<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UFC322?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">#UFC322<\/a> | Saturday | LIVE on TNT Sports &amp; discovery+ <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/USkRcUe5qi\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/USkRcUe5qi<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ufcontnt\/status\/1987843852577706029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">November 10, 2025<\/a>Massive Win Streaks Collide In UFC 322 Main Event<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5y\">Towns ended up putting on a show for Makhachev and the fans at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, as \u201cKAT\u201d put up 28 points and snagged 12 rebounds to help the Knicks down the Nets 134-98 and secure the Knicks\u2019 fourth win in a row. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"61\">READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mma\/news\/ufc-khamzat-chimaev-mma-lookalike-32-second-ko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UFC star Khamzat Chimaev&#8217;s MMA lookalike stays undefeated with violent 32-second KO<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"64\">A pair of lengthy win streaks will also be on the line when the cage door closes for the main event of UFC 322. Makhachev is undefeated in his career outside of a 2015 loss to Adriano Martins and has won 15-straight fights, while Della Maddalena <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mma\/news\/jack-della-maddalena-sends-chilling-warning-islam-makhachev-ufc-322\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">is unbeaten in the UFC<\/a> and has won 18 fights in a row after starting his pro career with back-to-back losses in 2016. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01k9q2dpjhmfph6fysnb.jpg\" alt=\"Jack Della Maddalena (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Belal Muhammad (not pictured) during UFC 315.\" title=\"Jack Della Maddalena (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Belal Muhammad (not pictured) during UFC 315.\" width=\"6972\" height=\"4648\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"6d\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Jack Della Maddalena (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Belal Muhammad (not pictured) for the Welterweight Title during UFC 315 at Bell Centre.  | Eric Bolte-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6h\">The welterweight title fight will cap off what should be an incredible night of action at Madison Square Garden. Outside of the main event and Shevchenko vs. Zhang, the main card also features two more pivotal welterweight contests with Leon Edwards taking Carlos Prates and Sean Brady set to meet Michael Morales, plus a high-stakes lightweight contest between Beneil Dariush and Benoit Saint-Denis.<\/p>\n<p>More MMA Knockout News<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-15\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6n\">\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mma\/news\/jon-jones-one-thing-ufc-champion-tom-aspinall-overrated\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jon Jones names one thing that makes UFC champion Tom Aspinall overrated<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6q\">\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mma\/news\/ufc-date-ufc-324-paramount-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UFC reportedly targets date for UFC 324 with Paramount deal set to begin in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6t\">\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mma\/news\/gable-steveson-jon-jones-mma-success-ufc-contract\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Gable Steveson credits Jon Jones for early MMA success, eyes UFC contract<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6w\">\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mma\/news\/ufc-nate-diaz-agreed-fight-jake-paul-boxing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Ex-UFC star Nate Diaz claims he&#8217;s agreed to fight Jake Paul in boxing rematch<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-19\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6z\">Stick with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">MMAKnockout<\/a> for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-20\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"72\">Follow MMAKnockout on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MMAKnockoutSI\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/UFCKnockout\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Twitter<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mmaknockoutsi\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Islam Makhachev received a welcome gift from New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns ahead of his main event&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":274384,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[444],"tags":[49,48,641,638,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-274383","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mma","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-fighting","11":"tag-mma","12":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/274383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=274383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/274383\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/274384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=274383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=274383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=274383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}