Top Five UFC Fights To Look Forward To In November

Jack Della Maddalena v Islam Makhachev

Sunday, November 16, SA time

The only accomplishment in combat sports greater than winning a UFC title is winning one in two different weight classes.

Only 10 fighters in UFC history have achieved this legendary feat, and Makhachev looks to join that elite group when he challenges welterweight champion Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 322 at the iconic Madison Square Garden.

Makhachev vacated the lightweight title in May after a divisional record four successful defences in his pursuit of a second strap. The Dagestani ace had long expressed his desire to become a double champion and Della Maddalena’s upset win over Makhachev’s teammate Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 opened the door for him to take his shot.

Valentina Shevchenko v Zhang Weili

Sunday, November 16, SA time

Like Makhachev, Zhang is gunning for a second title in the co-headliner of UFC 322.

After cleaning out the strawweight division with a statement win over the previously unbeaten Tatiana Suarez in February, “Magnum” is moving on to bigger and better things and has Shevchenko’s flyweight crown in her sights.

Shevchenko made the first defence of her second reign as 125-pound queen against Manon Fiorot in May, snapping the French phenom’s undefeated run in the UFC.

This is as big as it gets as the two best pound-for-pound female fighters in the world battle for ultimate supremacy.

October’s Top Five UFC Knockouts

Leon Edwards v Carlos Prates

Sunday, November 16, SA time

The featured bout at the World’s Most Famous Arena is a pivotal one in the careers of these top-10 welterweights, for different reasons.

Edwards, who ruled over the division from 2022 to mid-2024 when he was dethroned by Muhammad, has his back against the wall after being dominated and submitted by Sean Brady in March. In a two-fight slump, “Rocky” has to respond in a big way if he wants to protect his No. 3 ranking and start another run towards the belt.

Prates, meanwhile, is a predator on the prowl. The rising star has won five of his six fights inside the Octagon, all by knockout, including a KO of the Year contender against Geoff Neal in August. A win over a former champion in Edwards would be the biggest of his career and put his name in the title conversation.

Arman Tsarukyan v Dan Hooker

Saturday, November 22, SA time

A lightweight title eliminator headlines the historic UFC Qatar card at the ABHA Arena.

Tsarukyan pulled out of his scheduled title fight against then-champion Makhachev in January due to a back issue the day before the event, a decision that did not go down well with UFC president Dana White.

Winner of his last four fights, he now has to win one more to earn a title opportunity. A resurgent Hooker, who’s on a three-fight win streak, is standing in his way and plans to snatch the title shot for himself.

Belal Muhammad v Ian Machado Garry

Saturday, November 22, SA time

Similarly, the co-headliner of the promotion’s debut event in Qatar will likely determine the next challenger for the welterweight gold.

Muhammad is determined to bounce back from his title loss to Della Maddalena in May, which ended his remarkable 11-fight unbeaten run, while Machado Garry is looking to lock in his first shot at the title.

These two are ultra-confident and outspoken, so there’s extra spice to an already compelling clash of styles.