UFC 322 Previews and Predictions: Valentina Shevchenko defending flyweight title
The biggest UFC event of November is this weekend: UFC 322. This event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15, and will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York. UFC 322 will consist of 14 total fights, including two title fights.
The main event will see Jack Della Maddalena defend his UFC welterweight title against Islam Makhachev, while the co-main event features Valentina Shevchenko defending her UFC women’s flyweight title against Zhang Weili.
My article will preview three of the main card fights and provide a best bet for each fight.
UFC Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili best bet: Zhang Weili ML (+110)
My best bet for UFC 322 will target Zhang Weili to upset Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event to win the UFC women’s flyweight division title.
Zhang enters this fight with an MMA record of 26-3 and 10-2 in the UFC. She has won five UFC fights in a row, including her most recent fight against Tatiana Suarez via unanimous decision in February 2025. Her fighting style is balanced, as she averages 5.15 significant strikes per minute and 2.24 takedowns every 15 minutes.
Shevchenko is the small favourite in this fight; however, given the advantage that Zhang has in striking volume and the fact that she is in better form, having gone 5-0 over her last five fights compared to Shevchenko, who is 3-1-1 during the same stretch, backing Zhang Weili to win the UFC women’s flyweight title will be my play.
UFC Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales best bet: Michael Morales ML (+120)
My second pick for UFC 322 will be for Michael Morales to upset Sean Brady as part of the main card.
Morales enters this fight with an MMA record of 18-0 and 7-0 in the UFC. His most recent fight was a win against Gilbert Burns by KO/TKO in May 2025. While Morales has a balanced fighting style, he leans heavily on his striking, averaging 5.62 significant strikes per minute compared to 1.09 takedowns every 15 minutes.
Brady is the favourite; however, Morales looks to be the best betting option. Morales has a strong advantage over Brady in striking volume, so even though Morales’ grappling is much less prominent compared to Brady’s, his takedown defence is an elite 89 per cent, which should be enough to limit Brady’s grappling advantage. Morales has also never lost in the UFC; therefore, backing Morales to win will be my pick.
UFC Carlos Prates vs. Leon Edwards best bet: Carlos Prates ML (-190)
My final pick for UFC 322 will be for Carlos Prates to beat Leon Edwards on the main card. Prates enters this fight with an MMA record of 22-7 and 6-1 in the UFC. His fighting style relies heavily on his striking ability, as he is averaging 3.82 significant strikes per minute.
Prates is a heavy favourite; however, he is still the best betting option. He has an advantage over Edwards in striking volume, plus Edwards is 0-2 in his last two UFC fights. Given this, backing Carlos Prates to win will be my final UFC 322 pick.
