UFC 322 battle week is right here. Each November, MMA’s prime promotion on the earth heads to New York Metropolis for one of many yr’s most-anticipated premium reside occasions. This week, Madison Sq. Backyard is the location for the penultimate premium occasion of 2025 and penultimate PPV of the ESPN period.
Stay protection of UFC 322 begins with the early prelims on Saturday evening at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT from The World’s Most Well-known Area. Inside america, this portion of the present will be seen on ESPN+, along with UFC Combat Move. For those who’re watching the early prelims on conventional TV, FX will carry this part of the cardboard reside.
Late prelims at UFC 322 comply with at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on ESPN+ and ESPNNEWS through linear tv earlier than capping off the evening with a five-fight fundamental card at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on ESPN+ pay-per-view. After Saturday evening’s schedule of occasions, solely three UFC exhibits stay earlier than the calendar switches to 2026.
Embed from Getty ImagesIf there are not any changes between now and the weekend, the ultimate model of Saturday evening’s card incorporates a slate of 14 fights in The Huge Apple.
UFC 322 Featured Prelim: Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Viera
On the prime of the invoice on Saturday evening in New York Metropolis, the middleweights take to the fabled Octagon when Bo Nickal (7-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) appears to be like to rebound from his first profession defeat in MMA in opposition to Rodolfo Viera (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC.) All fights talked about herein are an marketed most of three rounds at 5 minutes per spherical.
Nickal has posted a report of 4-1 since becoming a member of the UFC’s lively roster in March of 2023. This previous spring, he tasted defeat for the primary time in MMA with a second-round knockout from Reinier de Ridder (21-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in Nashville. Since then, he’s returned to his wrestling roots.
Again on Aug. 30 in Cleveland, throughout the inaugural card from Actual American Freestyle on FOX Nation, Nickal battled Jacob Cardenas, successful by means of determination. Whereas a fighter of Bo Nickal’s ilk could be a harmful fighter on any given night, provided that he’s coming off of a loss in his final UFC battle, he could also be much more harmful this week.
Throughout the way in which, Rodolfo Viera shall be making the stroll in UFC 322’s featured prelim on the energy of a report of 3-2 in his final 5 contests contained in the cage. Three months in the past on the UFC Apex, he bested Tresean Gore (5-4 MMA, 2-4 UFC,) who missed weight the day earlier than the competition, through unanimous determination.
This battle was Tresean Gore’s second straight defeat. Viera has accomplished fairly nicely throughout all competitions heading into UFC 322 on Saturday evening. Counting grappling matches, he’s received 4 out of his final 5 fights, however how will this contest go in New York Metropolis?
UFC 322 Co-Featured Prelim: Roman Kopylov vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Instantly beforehand, the co-featured prelim of the night at UFC 322 options one other middleweight contest matching Roman Kopylov (14-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) in opposition to Gregory Rodrigues (17-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC.) Kopylov shall be touching down in New York Metropolis having posted a mark of 3-2 over the course of his 5 newest fights.
On July 19 in New Orleans, he tasted defeat from Paulo Costa (15-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in UFC 318. This battle vs. Costa was a rebooking of a postponed contest from June 28. UFC officers moved the battle to the New Orleans card previous to UFC 317.
Previous to the rebooking in opposition to Paulo Costa, Roman Kopylov had received two fights in a row. Will he be capable of bounce again on this co-featured undercard fixture?
Throughout the way in which, Gregory Rodrigues enters the Madison Sq. Backyard card sporting a 4-1 report in his final 5 appearances. He returned to victory lane on June 28 in UFC 317 with a first-round knockout over Jack Hermansson (24-9 MMA, 11-7 UFC.)
In so doing, Rodrigues pocketed a money advance to the tune of $50,000 (USD) for the Efficiency of the Evening Award. This was his second consecutive post-fight bonus, having obtained $50,000 in February for the Combat of the Evening in opposition to Jared Cannonier on the UFC Apex facility.
Gregory Rodrigues is aware of how one can get on the spotlight reel with a spectacular end, having received 75 % of his bouts earlier than the ultimate horn blares since becoming a member of the UFC. Will he be trending on social media this Saturday evening?
UFC 322: No. 4 Contender Erin Blanchfield vs. No. 8 Contender Tracy Cortez
Additionally on the UFC 322 prelims, the ladies’s flyweight division takes the stage for a crucial battle because it pertains to the championship image. No. 4 contender Erin Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) will return to motion after seeing a Could battle in opposition to Maycee Barber cancelled simply moments earlier than it was to have begun resulting from Barber’s medical points backstage on the UFC Apex.
Blanchfield’s opponent this week is No. 8 contender Tracy Cortez. The fourth-ranked contender is 4-1 in her final 5 contests.
Earlier than her Could 31 battle was postponed on the evening of the competition, she secured a unanimous determination victory in November of final yr in opposition to Rose Namajunas (14-7 MMA, 12-6 UFC.) Blanchfield went via coaching camp and accomplished all of her obligations main as much as the competition in Could, solely to see mentioned battle get referred to as off on the final minute.
Count on her to battle with frustration this weekend. Within the different nook, Tracy Cortez has gone 4-1 over her previous 5 fights.
Again on June 28, she scored a unanimous determination win versus Viviane Araujo (13-7 MMA, 7-6 UFC) after three rounds of motion. Previous to her loss in opposition to Rose Namajunas in Denver in July of final yr, Cortez had received 11 fights consecutively relationship again to late 2017. Will she start one other sustained successful streak right here?
Remainder of the Prelims:
The UFC 322 prelims can even function these fights:
A bantamweight contest between Malcolm Wellmaker (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Cody Haddon (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC,)
a middleweight battle versing Gerald Meerschaert (37-20 MMA, 12-12 UFC) in opposition to Kyle Daukaus (16-4, 1 NC MMA, 3-4, 1 NC UFC,)
a featherweight affair pairing Pat Sabatini (20-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC) with Chepe Mariscal (18-6, 1 NC MMA, 5-0 UFC,)
a strawweight contest between No. 12 contender Angela Hill (18-15 MMA, 13-15 UFC) and Fatima Klein (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC,)
a middleweight showcase pairing Baisangur Susurkaev (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in opposition to Eric McConico (10-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC,)
and a light-weight bout versing Viacheslav Borshchev (8-6-1 MMA, 3-5-1 UFC) with Matheus Camilo (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC.)
Which prelims are you trying ahead to throughout UFC 322? Tell us within the feedback.
