The upcoming UFC 322 event promises to be even more thrilling with the inclusion of one of MMA`s most promising fighters on its card. Following the promotion`s annual October visit to Abu Dhabi for UFC 321, all attention will shift to the Octagon`s return to Madison Square Garden on November 15. UFC 322 is already shaping up to be a monumental event, featuring two headlining title fights: Islam Makhachev will challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight championship, and Valentina Shevchenko will face Zhang Weili in a superfight for the women`s flyweight title. The undercard is also packed with intriguing matchups, including a recently added bout featuring an undefeated 10-0 bantamweight widely regarded as a future star in the world of MMA.
Malcolm Wellmaker`s Dream of Fighting at UFC 322 Comes True
Malcolm Wellmaker`s desire to compete at UFC 322 has become a reality. Even before championships are contested at UFC 322, several top contenders and rising prospects will be in action. In addition to Leon Edwards` return, Benoit Saint-Denis is set to fight Beneil Dariush on the main card. If these matchups weren`t enough to guarantee memorable moments at the iconic MSG venue, the addition of undefeated knockout artist Malcolm Wellmaker (10-0) certainly will. According to Marcel Dorff, the Dana White`s Contender Series alumnus will make his third appearance of 2025 at UFC 322 against Canada`s Serhiy Sidey (12-2).
This news confirms that the promotion granted the American`s wish following his latest victory. After Wellmaker`s brutal one-punch knockout at UFC Atlanta this past June, `The Machine` publicly expressed his ambition for a spot on the November 15 lineup in New York City.
“That`s one of the biggest things you could do as a combat sports athlete,” Wellmaker stated during a media scrum regarding fighting at MSG. “Being able to check something like that off the list in my third UFC fight would be incredible. So, I`m shooting for it. My management knows I want it, Sean (Shelby) and his team also know, and hopefully, they can make it happen for me.”
Malcolm Wellmaker Quits Job After $50,000 UFC Bonus
Malcolm Wellmaker resigned from his job after receiving a $50,000 bonus from Dana White. Wellmaker needed less than two minutes to conclude his UFC debut in Kansas City last April. This outcome was monumental not only for his MMA career but for his entire life.
Following his dominant performance against Cameron Saaiman, Wellmaker was awarded a $50,000 bonus by Dana White. This enabled him to quit his job as a welder and fully commit to being a professional MMA fighter.
“So many people bought into my story, so here’s an update,” Wellmaker shared in an Instagram post. “I just quit my job! Saturday night I made my UFC debut, scored a first-round knockout, and earned a $50k performance bonus. Today I became a full-time fighter.”
“In 2015, I joined the pipefitters union in Augusta, Local 150, as an apprentice. Since then, I’ve worked full-time in the trade while pursuing my dream. Throughout my career, I swore that if I made it to the UFC and earned a $50k bonus, I would quit my job, and today, it finally happened.”
