UFC 322 Preview: Best Bets and DFS Lineup for Saturday, November 15

Madison Square Garden will host UFC 322 this Saturday and it has shaped up to be, in my opinion, the best card of the year on paper. With so many compelling fights and inter-division storylines, this card is sure to be fireworks. The event features two world championship bouts that could reshape the UFC landscape.

In the main event, Islam Makhachev makes the move up from lightweight to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title. In the co-main event, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko puts her belt on the line against former strawweight queen Zhang Weili. New York City is in for a great night!

Main Event: Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena

Islam Makhachev’s move to welterweight is one of the biggest storylines of the year. Outside of his potential fight with Ilia Topuria, he has set his eyes on a new division. Known to struggle with weight-cuts that potentially held his cardio back, he now looks to test bigger and stronger competition.

Known for his dominant grappling game, he has improved in the striking department over the years. Islam prides himself in being a true mixed martial artist, and has no fear to stand and strike when necessary.

Jack Della Maddalena, the current welterweight champion, has quickly become one of the top strikers in the UFC. His sharp timing, slick footwork, and powerful combinations make him a constant threat on the feet. Della Maddalena is patient, accurate, and punishes opponents who over-commit.

The word on the internet streets is a lot of people believe Jack’s size will be too big, his striking too crisp, his ability to get up and defend takedowns blah blah blah. Don’t forget we are talking about one of the top pound-for-pound fighters over the last five years in Islam. This is a big step up for Jack.

Looking at recent opponents, I still am not impressed by Jack’s run to the title. Don’t get me wrong he is a phenomenal fighter, but Belal Muhammed has never been a top tier fighter in my eyes and was lucky to be in that current position. He then fought a washed up Gilbert Burns and struggled against mediocre Kevin Holland and Bassil Hafez.

Islam will not look small, and I believe he gets this thing done while showing Jack there are levels to MMA. It’s one thing to train with Volkanovski and Craig Jones, and another to get in the octagon with Islam Machechev, one of Dagestan’s best of all time.

Best Best: Win 3% Islam Machachev ML + o1.5 Rounds (-120, Draftkings)

Co-Main Event: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili

The women’s co-main will also be history as Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight belt against Zhang Weili. Weili vacated her strawweight title to chase double champ status, and history as she has a chance to beat the best flyweight women’s champion of all time.

Shevchenko has proven time and time again why she could be considered the best flyweight of all time. Outside of her recent submission loss to Alexa Grasso that shocked the world, she avenged that loss, then impressed against a very game Manon Fiorot. Both fighters are up in age, something has to give in this matchup.

Those that follow us closely know Zhang Weili has been our girl for quite some time! We have made a boat load off here over the last six to seven years and I think we can do it again here! She’s fast, powerful, can strike with the best strikers and has a relentless grappling/wrestling game.

We have seen Schevchenko do very well against other strikers, but when she fights girls who can grapple, or wrestle on the mat, she has lost, or been taken to decisions. Weili has all the tools to keep Schevkenco off balance with her pace and pressure. This is her moment for greatness!

Best Best: Fight Goes The Distance (-225) paired with Blanchfield Fight To Go Distance (-125, Draftkings) (must sprinkle Weili at + odds)

DFS Lineup Breakdown

Islam Makhachev — $9,200

As the headliner and one of the most reliable scorers in fantasy MMA, Islam Makhachev is a strong anchor for any lineup. He averages 97 fantasy points, hitting 100+ in three straight and eight of his last nine fights. His grappling style produces points through takedowns and control time. Even if he doesn’t find a finish, his pace and pressure often lead to high-volume scoring over five rounds.

Erin Blanchfield — $9,000

Erin Blanchfield continues to reward DFS backers and she is a must play against a fighter I always want to fade in Tracy Cortes. Blanchfield has been a decision machine in recent fights, but does have submission and finishing prowess in her back pocket. Cortes is tough to finish, but Blanchfield can rack up points in three rounds as she has surpassed 94 points in six of her last eight fights.

Sean Brady — $8,500

Sean Brady brings strong value at this price point and I think he gets the job done by either submission or decision. His -130 ML is good value as this is his chance to not only make his final claim for a title fight, but he gets to slow down one of UFC’s most hyped, and undefeated rising stars in Michael Morales. If Brady can get this to the ground and compromise Morales, he can bully himself to a finish or drag out a boring three rounds of top control and ground and pound.

Zhang Weili — $8,000

Zhang Weili has to be on this card as she scores for us every time. Even if she loses this fight, I believe she gets up volume and a takedown or two of her own. She has scored 111 points or more in four of her last five fights and if they can keep pace for five rounds, she could hit 150 strikes. With a fight going the distance in my eyes she has plenty of time to work in takedowns, submission attempts, and rack up strikes. Taking Weili at + odds is not a terrible financial decision if you ask me.

Roman Kopylov — $7,600

Roman Kopylov offers knockout power and can keep distance with accurate kick-boxing. At this price, if he can avoid the KO shot from Rodrigues, he has a very good chance to outpoint him on the feet. Kopylov is looking to bounce back off a poor performance to Paolo Costa, but prior to that he found 130 strikes and a win vs Chris Curtis. If he can find his rhythm he can frustrate Rodrigues to a decision win. Take his +160 as I believe its great value.

Leon Edwards — $7,300

Former champion Leon Edwards rounds out the lineup as an excellent low-cost veteran option. As long as he can weather the storm and not get finished, I believe he can not only strike with Prates, but he could find some grappling success too. Edwards is on a two fight losing streak and the UFC did him no favors to get back in the win column. If there is any dog left Edwards could outsmart and outpoint his way to a shocking victory as I could be one of the only people playing him at +170, one last head shot!