Summary of the UFC 322 Article
This article discusses the UFC 322 card, highlighting its strengths while acknowledging the disappointment of the cancelled Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall superfight. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
UFC 322 Card: The event, taking place at madison Square Garden on November 15th, features three championship fights:
Zhang Weili vs. Valentina Shevchenko: strawweight champion Zhang Weili moving up too challenge for the flyweight title.
Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena: Makhachev, after vacating his lightweight title, challenges for the welterweight title.
Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates: Former welterweight champion Edwards returns to face Prates.
Missed Opportunity: The article emphasizes that while the card is strong, it doesn’t reach the potential excitement of a Jones vs. Aspinall fight, which would have been a historic heavyweight championship clash. Jones’ retirement contributed to this disappointment. Champions Vacating Titles: The author presents a contrarian viewpoint, arguing they are largely unbothered by champions vacating belts when moving up in weight. They believe interim titles are beneficial for keeping divisions active and ensuring fighters are adequately compensated. The core issue isn’t the belt, but the financial incentives created by interim titles.
* Fight Predictions/Outlook: Makhachev and Zhang are favored in their respective title fights, tho Makhachev’s fight is expected to be closer.
In essence, the article acknowledges a solid UFC card but laments the loss of a truly monumental matchup and offers a unique viewpoint on the practice of champions vacating titles.
