Madison Square Garden’s annual UFC event returns as it may just be the most stacked fight card of the year.
The headliner and co-main event features two exciting title fights where both challengers have the chance to become two-division champions.
Jack Della Maddalena defends his welterweight title against former lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, and Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight belt against former strawweight champion, Zhang Weili.
With those two championship bouts claiming most of the attention, here are five other fights that are worth watching at UFC 322.
Sean Brady vs Michael Morales
Starting with a 170lbs battle, which could decide who earns the next title shot and faces the winner of the main event.
Brady placed himself at the top of the rankings when he submitted Leon Edwards in enemy territory at UFC London.
The Philadelphia-born fighter has earned credible victories over the likes of Gilbert Burns, Kelvin Gastelum and Michael Chiesa.
The #2 contender is a wrestling problem at welterweight, stopping half of the opponents he has conquered with three TKO wins and six submissions.
Morales extended his undefeated record in MMA after knocking out Burns in the first round at UFC Vegas 106.
The Ecuadorian fighter has only had six fights in the UFC, winning four of his bouts by knockout or technical knockout.
The #8 contender is extremely dangerous on the feet, as 13 of his 18 triumphs have ended by knockout.
Morales has a great chance to boost himself up the rankings as a strong title contender, but Brady wants to make sure he claims the next golden opportunity.
Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates
A former champion is looking for redemption, but a heavily recognised prospect wants to put himself in title contention.
Edwards is currently riding on a two-fight losing streak after suffering defeats to Brady and Belal Muhammad.
‘Rocky’ has a list of impressive names he has defeated, including Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone.
The #4 contender doesn’t often finish his battles, but seven of his 22 victories have ended by KO/TKO.
Prates redeemed himself in his last contest after a remarkable first-round knockout against Geoff Neal at UFC 319.
‘The Nightmare’ has only lost one fight in his six UFC bouts, knocking out everyone else in two rounds or less.
The #9 contender has only gone the distance twice in his career when victorious, winning 17 of his fights by knockout and three by submission.
A win for Prates will push him into the top five, placing him a fight away from a title shot, but a triumph for Edwards could give him a chance to regain his title.
Beneil Dariush vs Benoit Saint-Denis
Two lightweight contenders come face-to-face on the main card as a veteran vs a prospect.
Dariush redeemed his two consecutive knockout defeats with an unanimous decision win over Renato Moicano at UFC 317.
Since his debut in January 2014, the 36-year-old has always faced tough competition, especially after grabbing victories against Mateusz Gamrot and Tony Ferguson.
The #9 contender can stop a fight however he prefers, having held five KO/TKO wins and eight submissions from his 23 career wins.
Saint-Denis earned his second consecutive second-round submission win in his last bout, defeating Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Paris.
The ‘God of War’ came close to entering title contention at UFC 299, but lost by knockout to Dustin Poirier, who was ranked #3.
The #13 contender boasts a 100% finish rate, consisting of four knockouts and 11 submissions, indicating that he prefers to settle matters decisively.
Dariush will be fighting to maintain his position in the 155lbs rankings, while the Frenchman is eager to enter the top 10.
Roman Kopylov vs Gregory Rodrigues
Two middleweight knockout artists prepare to give their say on why they should be future contenders.
Kopylov dropped from the top 15 in the rankings after losing by unanimous decision to Paulo Costa at UFC 318.
The Russian’s last victory was arguably his best when he knocked out Chris Curtis in the last second of round three.
The 34-year-old has stopped 12 of his 14 fights by knockout and has only gone the distance three times in the UFC.
Rodrigues produced a brutal KO when he stopped Jack Hermansson in the first round at UFC 317.
‘Robocop’ earned two impressive wins last year, defeating the experienced Brad Tavares and English prospect Christian Leroy Duncan in enemy territory.
The Brazilian has finished 14 of his 17 contests, winning 11 of those by knockout and three by submission.
It will be a surprise if this scheduled three-round war does not end with a knockout as both men aim to make a statement.
Erin Blanchfield vs Tracy Cortez
A potential women’s flyweight title eliminator between two eye-catching contenders in the division.
Blanchfield last fought a year ago, earning redemption with a decision win over Rose Namajunas at UFC Edmonton.
Before her loss to Manon Fiorot, ‘Cold Blooded’ was unbeaten in her first six UFC fights and came close to claiming a title shot.
With 13 wins in her MMA career, the #4 contender holds two TKO victories and four submissions.
Cortez also redeemed herself when she defeated Viviane Araujo by unanimous decision at UFC 317.
The 31-year-old previously faced Blanchfield at Invicta 34 in February 2019, winning by split decision before entering Dana White’s Contender Series.
The #8 contender only holds two stoppage victories from 12 wins, proving that she likes to go to the judges’ scorecards.
Cortez will be hoping to repeat history and move up the flyweight rankings; however, Blanchfield seeks long-awaited revenge after a one-year layoff from the sport.