New York, November 15, 2025 — British welterweight Leon Edwards will return to the Octagon at UFC 322, taking on Brazilian contender Carlos Prates on a stacked card featuring two championship fights.
Edwards Looks for Redemption
The 34-year-old Edwards, a former welterweight champion, is eager to bounce back after suffering two consecutive defeats. His most recent loss came in March, when he was comprehensively beaten by Sean Brady. Currently ranked fourth in the division, Edwards sees UFC 322 as an opportunity to revive his title aspirations.
Across the cage will stand ninth-ranked Prates, 32, who has surged into contention after a spectacular knockout victory over Geoff Neal at UFC 319 earlier this month. The matchup promises fireworks between two dangerous strikers.
Main Event: Maddalena vs Makhachev
The headline bout features Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena defending his welterweight crown against Islam Makhachev. The Russian, 33, vacated his lightweight belt in June and now seeks to become the 11th fighter in UFC history to claim titles in two different weight classes. Maddalena, 28, makes his first title defense after dethroning Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May.
Co-Main: Shevchenko vs Weili
Equally historic is the co-main event, where Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight title against former strawweight queen Zhang Weili. Ranked first and second respectively in the women’s pound-for-pound list, the showdown is considered one of the biggest female MMA clashes ever.
Weili, 36, vacates her strawweight belt to move up in weight for the challenge. She boasts a record of 10 wins in 12 UFC appearances and is a two-time champion at 115 lbs. Shevchenko, 37, meanwhile, has dominated the flyweight division, holding the record with eight successful title defenses across her two championship reigns.
Strawweight Division Shaken Up
With Weili stepping up, the vacant strawweight title will be contested at UFC 321 on October 25, where Brazilian Virna Jandiroba meets Mackenzie Dern. That event will also feature Britain’s Tom Aspinall defending his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.
A Stacked November Card
UFC 322 promises high drama, with Edwards vs Prates serving as a high-stakes welterweight clash alongside two blockbuster title fights. The outcomes could reshape three divisions and deliver one of the most memorable cards of the year.
