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UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev (aka VeChain UFC 322)

November 15, 2025

Madison Square Garden
@TheGarden

New York City, New York

Mains:

Welterweight
Jack Della Maddalena (c) vs. Islam Makhachev

Women's Flyweight
Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Zhang Weili

Welterweight
Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales

Welterweight
Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates

Lightweight
Beneil Dariush vs. Benoît Saint Denis

Prelims:

Middleweight
Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira

Middleweight
Roman Kopylov vs. Gregory Rodrigues

Women's Flyweight
Erin Blanchfield vs. Tracy Cortez

Bantamweight
Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Cody Haddon

Middleweight
Kyle Daukaus vs. Gerald Meerschaert

Featherweight
Pat Sabatini vs. Chepe Mariscal

Women's Strawweight
Angela Hill vs. Fatima Kline

Middleweight
Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Eric McConico

Lightweight
Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Matheus Camilo

Videos

VeChain UFC 322 Embedded: Vlog Series - Episode 1
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tjDrgX7OfpA

Champ Valentina Shevchenko shows off her moves on Live with Kelly and Mark; Zhang Weili takes a break from her training; Leon Edwards wraps up his camp in the UK; Bo Nickal goes on a hike with his family; Tracy Cortez prepares for a rematch with Erin Blanchfield; Champ Jack Della Maddalena tries New York pizza; Islam Makhachev goes fishing before heading into New York City. (Credit: UFC)

VeChain UFC 322: Pre-Fight Press Conference
https://youtube.com/watch?v=bj10oVRG15g

VeChain UFC 322: Ceremonial Weigh-In
https://youtube.com/watch?v=r-1S4EwvN8s

VeChain UFC 322: Post-Fight Press Conference
https://youtube.com/watch?v=w5Mex_GgivQ

Media Man: About as much of the octagon news and warfare as there is happening inside the cage! Road To The White House!

News

UFC 322 Betting:

Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev
Welterweight (Title)
Islam Makhachev (-250)
Jack Della Maddalena (+210)

Valentina Shevchenko vs. Weili Zhang
Women's Flyweight (Title)
Valentina Shevchenko (-135)
Weili Zhang (+115)

Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales
Welterweight
Michael Morales (-119)
Sean Brady (+139)

Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates
Welterweight
Carlos Prates (-195)
Leon Edwards (+165)

Beneil Dariush vs. Benoit Saint Denis
Lightweight
Benoit Saint Denis (-187)
Beneil Dariush (+162)

Profiles

Welterweight Championship: Jack Della Maddalena (c) (-210) vs. Islam Makhachev (+175)

Jack Della Maddalena (17-2, Australia, 29 years old): The reigning welterweight champ captured the title six months ago at UFC 315 via unanimous decision over Belal Muhammad, stuffing all takedowns in a gritty five-round war. On an 18-fight win streak since early losses in 2016, he's a versatile striker with elite conditioning, volume, and finishing power (12 KOs). Recent wins include a late KO of Gilbert Burns and decisions over Kevin Holland and Bassil Hafez. He's trained with Alexander Volkanovski and Craig Jones to shore up grappling.

Islam Makhachev (26-1, Russia, 34 years old): Former lightweight king with 15 straight wins (UFC record for most lightweight title defenses at four), last loss in 2015. A Dagestani grappling savant under Khabib Nurmagomedov's tutelage, he's 14-0 in UFC with elite chain wrestling, ground control, and improving striking (11 subs, 5 KOs). Moving up from 155 due to weight cut toll, this debut at 170 could make him the 11th two-division champ and tie Anderson Silva's 16-win streak.

However, consensus favors Makhachev's experience in big spots.

Analysis: Della Maddalena thrives in chaos with heart and pace, but Makhachev's technical superiority on the mat could overwhelm—especially if he exploits any ground vulnerabilities. Experts like Israel Adesanya predict a brutal Della Maddalena finish via strikes, while Dan Hooker backs the Aussie for size/strength edges.

Prediction: Makhachev by submission (Rd 3). He neutralizes the power puncher early and grinds out a tap for dual-division glory.

Women's Flyweight Championship: Valentina Shevchenko (c) (-135) vs. Weili Zhang (+115)
Valentina Shevchenko (24-4-1, Kyrgyzstan, 37 years old):
Two-time flyweight champ with a 14-1-1 UFC record at 125 lbs (10-1-1 in title fights). Avenged her only divisional loss (to Alexa Grasso in 2023) last year; recent UD win over Manon Fiorot at UFC 315.
A muay thai master with surgical counters, clinch work, and cardio (7 KOs, 2 subs), she's eyeing a tie for most women's UFC title wins (10, with Amanda Nunes).

Weili Zhang (26-3, China, 36 years old): Two-time strawweight queen (10-2 UFC) moving up for her first flyweight title shot. Reclaimed gold at UFC 281 via sub over Carla Esparza; recent UDs over Amanda Lemos, Yan Xiaonan, and Tatiana Suarez. Explosive wrestler-striker with raw power (12 KOs, 7 subs), undefeated at 125 except vs. Rose Namajunas (0-2 overall). This "superfight" pits her physicality against elite technique.

Analysis: Near pick'em odds reflect a clash of eras—Shevchenko's precision vs. Zhang's aggression and size advantage at flyweight. Zhang's strawweight dominance translates via strength, but Bullet's counters could punish rushes. Previews call it a potential career-definer, with stoppage risks high.

Prediction: Shevchenko by decision. Her technical edge and home-division comfort edges out Zhang's debut power in a five-round chess match.

Welterweight: Sean Brady (+139) vs. Michael Morales (-119)

Sean Brady (18-1, USA, 32 years old): Grappling wizard on a three-fight skid after his lone loss to Belal Muhammad. Subbed Leon Edwards (Rd 4) on short notice in London earlier this year for a bonus; 12-1 UFC with suffocating top control (12 subs).

Michael Morales (18-0, Ecuador, 25 years old): Undefeated phenom with four UFC finishes (all first-round KOs lately over Neil Magny and Gilbert Burns). Athletic finisher (16 KOs) hungry for top-5 entry.

Analysis: Morales' KO streak meets Brady's elite wrestling; a title eliminator where ground game vs. standup decides. X buzz favors Morales' youth/momentum.

Prediction: Morales by KO (Rd 2). His power overwhelms if Brady can't chain takedowns.

Welterweight: Leon Edwards (+165) vs. Carlos Prates (-195)

Leon Edwards (22-4, England, 34 years old): Ex-champ on a two-fight skid after losing gold at UFC 296 (two years ago). 12-3 UFC with crisp boxing and distance management (10 KOs); needs a rebound to rebuild confidence.

Carlos Prates (20-6, Brazil, 32 years old): Rising KO artist with five straight UFC first-round stoppages (incl. Geoff Neal at UFC 319), but recent UD loss to Ian Garry. Muay thai sniper (17 KOs) chasing contention.

Analysis: Prates' blitz could end it quick, but Edwards' IQ shines in later rounds. Betting tips highlight over 2.5 rounds value.

Prediction: Prates by KO (Rd 1). His power exploits Edwards' recent rust.

Lightweight: Beneil Dariush (+162) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (-187)

Beneil Dariush (22-6-1, USA/Iran, 36 years old): Veteran grappler (9-2 in last 11) with recent UD over Renato Moicano at UFC 317. Durable with slick subs (12 total), eyeing top-10 return.

Benoit Saint Denis (14-3, France, 29 years old): 7-2 UFC, snapped skid with back-to-back subs (over Mauricio Ruffy and at UFC 315). Aggressive finisher (10 KOs/subs) with cardio.

Analysis: Dariush's experience vs. BSD's momentum; previews predict a grappling war turning violent.

Prediction: Saint Denis by sub (Rd 2). Youth and pressure seal the comeback.

News

X UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya on record re UFC 322 Welterweight Main Event:

Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev

“I’m not trying to count Islam out, but knowing Jack, I know that when Jack keeps getting up, it’s going to be a problem” Adesanya

“Islam’s going to be forced to strike, and when he does, he’s going to get hurt. I think Islam’s the best of the Dagestanis, one of the best fighters in history…but if Dustin was able to get up and stop his submissions, I’ve seen it live what [Volkanovski] can do with Islam in Perth.”

“That’s how I know [Jack] is going to hurt Islam. Islam will be able to get him down, but not for long. Stuffed from the beginning, to the middle, until Jack ends it at the end”

“I really think Jack Della Maddalena has the skills to stifle Islam’s game and just put it on the feet, knock him out. Might be second round.”

News Flashback

UFC White House

In July 2025, President Donald Trump announced plans to host a UFC event on the White House grounds in 2026, as part of the America250 celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The event, confirmed by the UFC and White House officials, is envisioned as a "championship fight" with 20,000–25,000 spectators, likely held on the South Lawn. UFC CEO Dana White has expressed enthusiasm, calling it "the baddest card of all time," with logistics already in progress, including coordination with White House staff and Secret Service. Potential headliners include Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, with Conor McGregor also expressing interest, though his inclusion is less certain. The event aims to be a historic first, as no professional sporting event has ever been held on White House grounds. (Grok)

News

MMA Watercooler

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes On Conor McGregor

“I’ll say that one person I’d love to see just dip his toes in the WWE would be Conor McGregor…The competition environment at WWE is different from what people might expect - it’s so much about who’s the most disciplined, the most professional, getting to the finish line, making it to a WrestleMania.” Cody Rhodes

News

MMA And Politics via Social Media

Renato Moicano tweeted that “leftism is a cancer” and that “if you’re a liberal, you the fucking problem” ... “all the radical left has ties with gangs and narco terrorism.”

News

TKO's Dwayne Johnson on Potential U.S Political Run

“It’s wild, man,” Johnson said when asked whether he would run for president in the future. “I’m always honoured that people ask that. I love what I do. I love storytelling. But yeah… we’ll see.” Dwayne Johnson

News

Coach Wood On Rountree Jr’s vs Prochazka

“It’s a double-edged sword when you fight like that,” Wood via MMA Fighting. “You’re going to win a lot of fights because of that style, but you’re also going to lose fights because of that style. I think this is a phenomenal matchup for us. I think it’s going to be a great fight.

“As a fan, it’s great, but as a coach, I love it. You’ve got a crazy weird guy with that crazy weird stuff and it does open you up, and I think it really does play into our benefit.”

“I think it’s going to be violent, bloody” ... “Nothing in my bones tells me it’s going three rounds. There’s no thought process, no world where I go ‘I think it’s going to go to a decision.’ If it does, they’re going to be very damaged. There’s going to be eyeballs falling out, ears falling off, type of fight.” John Wood

News

Wanderlei Silva suffers fractured nose in postfight brawl

Wanderlei Silva, one of the most popular figures of early mixed martial arts, received treatment at a hospital Saturday after he was knocked out in the aftermath of an exhibition boxing match in Sao Paulo.

Silva, 49, was disqualified in the fourth round for throwing illegal headbutts against 50-year-old Acelino Freitas. Immediately after the bout, members of both fighters' camps entered the ring and started an ugly postfight brawl. During the scuffle, Silva got hit with a right hand and crumpled violently to the floor. Brazilian media identified Silva's attacker as Freitas' son, Rafael.

Silva's cornerman and former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum later posted on social media that Silva suffered a fractured nose from the punch and received facial stitches. He was released following treatment.

"The images don't lie," Werdum said in Portuguese on social media. "It was so evil for that guy to punch Wanderlei. He punched the back of the head of Wanderlei. I don't know if it landed clean, but it could have been something very serious."

Acelino Freitas, a former boxing champion, blamed Silva's corner for the brawl -- namely Werdum, who threw a series of punches at Freitas and other members of his team before Silva got knocked out.

"When the fight ended, the referee disqualified Wanderlei for the three headbutts, his coach went after me and punched me," Freitas said on social media. "Wanderlei, the fight was between you and me and had nothing to do with the team. If you headbutted me, cool, I don't care. But unfortunately, Werdum cowardly entered the ring with your son and went all over everybody. And I saw that someone also punched you."

Neither the Brazilian National Boxing Council nor the promotion, Spaten Fight Night, announced any immediate discipline. In a statement, Spaten Fight Night said the events did not represent its values of "sportsmanship and respect to the rules."

The boxing match was Silva's first since he retired from MMA in 2018. He was supposed to face fellow Brazilian MMA legend Vitor Belfort, but Belfort withdrew and was replaced by Freitas on less than one month's notice. The bout was scheduled for eight rounds. Silva weighed in 44 pounds heavier than Freitas for the exhibition.

News

X WWE Star Shotzi On Ronda Rousey In Pro Wrestling

Asked about Rousey during an interview with TMZ, former WWE star Shotzi Blackheart stated that she enjoyed her time in the ring with the UFC star.

"She was always so cool," Blackheart said of Rousey. "She would invite me to her house to come train with her and she was always down to take the most brutal bumps. Especially [during] our pay-per-view match, she was taking some crazy bumps for me."

"I'm a big Ronda fan," Blackheart continued. "I will forever be so proud to say, 'Hey, I wrestled Ronda Rousey in a pay-per-view for the f**king championship.' You can't take that away from me."

When asked if Rousey hit harder than other opponents because of her MMA background, Blackheart denied that to be the case. There was one exception to that, as Blackheart said that Rousey's judo throws hurt because they were real.

Overall, Blackheart indicated that working with the rest of the women's locker room was her favorite aspect of being in WWE. After being released by the company in May, Blackheart has made her return to the independent scene with appearances in MLW, GCW, and more.

News

UFC: 2024

Aussie Sports Pay-Per-View News: UFC - Foxtel Group Pay-Per-View Partnership

X MMA News via Media Man Int

UFC.com

Websites

UFC 395
http://ufc.com/event/ufc-305

UFC Official Website
http://ufc.com

UFC YouTube
http://youtube.com/UFC

UFC 305: Pre-Fight Press Conference - August 16, 2024
https://youtube.com/watch?v=UAcpAT4Y_kQ&t=4s

Perth, Western Australia

Highlights of the verbal fight between champion Dricus "Stillnocks" du Plessis and challenger Israel Izzy "The Last Stylebender" Adesanya included:

“Are you taking the servants with you when you’re going back [to Africa with the belt]? Are you taking the servants with you if you’re going back?” du Plessis asked.

“What the *uck are you even on about?” Adesanya

“My God, it’s obviously a see and tell. We can see that. What do you mean? You’re saying that I made [the build-up to UFC 305] about culture?” du Plessis

“Bro, shut the f*ck up. You don’t even know anything about my story. You have no idea who the f*ck I am” Adesanya

“I don’t care about your story. I don’t care about your story” du Plessis

“Listen, my father and myself had to wake up at 4 a.m. and clean the banks while my mom studies to be a nurse” Izzy

“You don’t know my f*cking story. Don’t f*cking speak on my story if you don’t know my story. I will show you who you are Sunday, so right now shut the f*ck up.” Izzy

“I can’t wait” du Plessis

“You’re talking about, I made [the build-up] about anything else than being the first residing African champ. I am the first.” du Plessis

“You did, you did” Izzy

“You couldn’t even respect the people of the land. [At the] welcome to the country [ceremony to start UFC 305 fight week], you were the one not even doing anything. I took my shoes off to connect with the people, with the [natives]. What did you do? You stand there and try to mean mug me. Are you stupid?” Izzy

“My man” du Plessis

“I’m not your f*cking man, bitch” Izzy

“You sound silly, you sound like a f*cking pig. I will slay you, Porky Pig” Izzy

“You can’t change the facts” du Plessis

“You can’t change those facts.” du Plessis

“He touched a subject there because I do this for my family” Adesanya

“I do this for the people I love, and I will fight for you forever, I swear to God. Watch this. Look, I am a *ucking human being, I am a man. I can cry and whoop your ass at the same time.

“First time I fought here [in Perth], [UFC] 221, that was February 2018, that was me making me dreams come true. Sunday, I’m going to f*cking kill your dreams, bitch. I’m going to f*cking kill your dreams” Izzy

“There’s no place for odds in the octagon, I have to say that, but obviously the oddsmakers are seeing what I know and seeing what the people are seeing” du Plessis

“It’s pretty evident. Like I said, the man needs to be motivated to be back here. He had an emotional feel to be back here. He said it, he’s motivated by me, that’s what gets him back in here” du Plessis

“I’m motivated by greatness. I’m not motivated by some person. If he doesn’t step in, I’ll be the same motivated fighter that steps in there, and anybody can see this. Once again, it’s about how bad do you want it. It’s pretty evident how bad I want this. And on Sunday morning, there will be no doubt of how bad I wanted this.” du Plessis

Media Continued ...

“I'm going to fight for the fight of my life this time" Izzy

Many fans chant "Izzy, Izzy, Izzy"

de Plessis raises UFC title and points to it, getting a mixed reaction. Different vibe to the Sydney 293 when "Tarzan" Strickland had the vast majority of fans in his corner.

Fun fact gonzo style: In pro wrestling its not quite "Dirty" Dick Murdoch (or Colonel DeBeers) vs The Junk Yard Dog aka JYD, but you get the idea. Real heat here fans! Fans will be wide awake for this one, but can one fighter put the other to sleep?!

Videos

UFC 305 Embedded: Vlog Series - Episode 1 https://youtube.com/watch?v=bdtnIiKbMoA

Champ Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya train for their title bout; Steve Erceg walks his dog; Jairzinho Rozenstruik eats after training; Tai Tuivasa arrives in Perth; Carlos Prates hangs out with his mom; Kai Kara-France gets a haircut. (Credit: UFC)

UFC 305 Embedded: Vlog Series - Episode 2 https://youtube.com/watch?v=SExOmPWMKVU

Champ Dricus Du Plessis shows off his belt; The City Kickboxing team trains together; Mateusz Gamrot explores nature; Carlos Prates gets one last cardio session in at home; Steve Erceg hangs out with his parents; Tai Tuivasa has a hard workout session. (Credit: UFC)

UFC 305 Countdown - Du Plessis vs Adesanya https://youtube.com/watch?v=wLfQ6aHxELY

The UFC 305 Countdown previews the intense rivalry between UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former champ Israel Adesanya ahead of their historic main event, which marks the first time two African-born fighters battle for a UFC title. Don't miss the main card action that kicks off at 10pm ET / 7pm PT on Saturday August 17. (Credit: UFC)

"Cultural roots run deep for the people of Africa. The pride of the nation is echoed through its sporting culture. In recent years the rise of African fighters in the UFC has been clear and present" ... Narrator

UFC 300

UFC 300: Press Conference (YouTube)

UFC 300

UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on April 13, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, United States.

Main card: three title fights and a title eliminator

A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Alex Pereira (also former UFC Middleweight Champion and former Glory Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion) and former champion Jamahal Hill will headline the event. The fight was verbally agreed for UFC 301 three weeks later, but the promotion opted to book it at this card. Pereira won the vacant title at UFC 295 against former champion Jirí Procházka after Hill was forced to vacate it in July 2023 due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

A UFC Women's Strawweight Championship bout between current two-time champion Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan is expected to take place at the event. It will mark the first time two Chinese-born athletes will meet for a title in the organization.

Former interim UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje (also former WSOF Lightweight Champion) is expected to defend his symbolic "BMF" (baddest motherfucker) title against former UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway in a lightweight bout Gaethje won the symbolic title at UFC 291 defeating fellow former interim champion Dustin Poirier by second round knockout in what was their second meeting.

Former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan are scheduled to meet in a lightweight title eliminator bout.

The main card will be opened by a middleweight bout between three-time NCAA Division I National Wrestling Champion and undefeated prospect Bo Nickal and Cody Brundage.

Under-card

Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jirí Procházka (also the inaugural Rizin Light Heavyweight Champion) and Aleksandar Rakic are expected to meet in a light heavyweight contest as the featured bout of the preliminary card.

Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling is expected to make his promotional debut at featherweight against Calvin Kattar.

2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in judo (also two-time PFL women's lightweight tournament champion) Kayla Harrison is expected to make her promotional debut, as well as her bantamweight debut, against former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion (also International Boxing Hall of Famer) Holly Holm.

A featherweight bout between Sodiq Yusuff and Diego Lopes is expected to take place at the event.

Renato Moicano and Jalin Turner are expected to meet in a lightweight bout, which was the final addition to the card.

Former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade and Marina Rodriguez are expected to meet in a women's strawweight bout.

Jim Miller and Bobby Green are expected to meet in a lightweight bout at the event. Miller will become the only fighter to have competed at all three milestone events for the organization, previously competing at UFC 100 and UFC 200. The duo was previously booked thrice, but canceled all three times due to Green withdrawals: first at UFC 172 in April 2014, due to an elbow injury;the second booking at UFC 258 in February 2021, when he collapsed after the weigh-ins and was deemed unfit to compete;and the third time at UFC 276 in July 2022, when Green withdrew for unknown reasons.

A bantamweight bout between former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt and former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo was chosen to open the event.[21] The pairing was previously scheduled to meet at UFC 255 in November 2020 for the flyweight title but Garbrandt withdrew due to a torn bicep. (Wikipedia)

UFC 300: Press Conference (YouTube)

UFC.com News

Media Man

News

UFC 297: STRICKLAND VS DU PLESSIS RESULTS (UFC.com)

UFC 297 (Wikipedia)

Videos

UFC 297: Strickland vs du Plessis Cold Open

UFC 297 Embedded: Vlog Series - Episode 6

Top Octagon Finishes From UFC 297 Fighters

Sean Strickland ‘I Think This Is Going to Be a Harder Fight Than Izzy’ | UFC 297

Dricus du Plessis ‘I Am Here to Be Middleweight Champion of the World’ | UFC 297

Video

UFC Media. Sydney, Australia. 2023

Endeavor-UFC deal is the next evolution of WWE, says Vince McMahon (CNBC Television YouTube)

Tag team deal: WWE to merge with UFC (CNBC Television YouTube)

Endeavor to merge UFC with WWE in $21 billion deal (CNBC Television YouTube)

WWE in talks to sell to UFC parent Endeavor (CNBC Teleivion YouTube)

ENDEAVOR ANNOUNCES UFC AND WWE TO FORM A $21+ BILLION GLOBAL LIVE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY (UFC.com)

UFC in shock $13.5 billion takeover of WWE to create combat sport juggernaut (FOX Sports)

'Powerhouse': WWE, UFC merge to create $21b sporting giant

How UFC Got Social Media Right; WWE taking the fight online via social media and people power

UFC.com

UFC Fight Night: Atlantic City

March 31, 2024

Sean Brady vs Vicente Luque
Erin Blanchfield vs Manon Fiorot
Chris Weidman vs Bruno Silva
Dominick Reyes vs Carols Ulberg
Virna Jandiroba vs Loopy Godinez
Andre Petroski vs Jacob Malkoun
Chidi Njokuani vs Rhys McKee
Connor Matthews vs Dennis Buzukja
Angel Pacheco vs Caolan Loughran
Julio Arce vs Herbert Burns

UFC 292

Sterling vs O'Malley Results

Main Event: Sean O’Malley defeats Aljamain Sterling by TKO (strikes) at 0:51 of Round 2

Co-Main Event: Zhang Weili defeats Amanda Lemos by unanimous decision (50-43, 50-44, 49-45)

Ian Machado Garry defeats Neil Magny by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-24)

Mario Bautista defeats Da’Mon Blackshear by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-29, 30-27)

Marlon Vera defeats Pedro Munhoz by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Brad Tavares defeats Chris Weidman by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Gregory Rodrigues defeats Denis Tiuliulin by KO (elbows) at 1:43 of Round 1

Kurt Holobaugh defeats Austin Hubbard by submission (triangle choke) at 2:39 of Round 2

rad Katona defeats Cody Gibson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Andre Petroski defeats Gerald Meerschaert by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Natalia Silva defeats Andrea Lee by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Karine Silva defeats Maryna Moroz by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:59 of Round 1

ENDEAVOR ANNOUNCES UFC® AND WWE® TO FORM A $21+ BILLION GLOBAL LIVE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
April 3, 2023

New, Publicly Listed Company to be 51% Owned by Endeavor and 49% by Existing WWE Shareholders

Endeavor to Contribute UFC into Company at Enterprise Value of $12.1 Billion

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. and STAMFORD, Conn. (April 3, 2023) – Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR) (“Endeavor”) and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) (“WWE”) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to form a new, publicly listed company consisting of two iconic, complementary, global sports and entertainment brands: UFC and WWE. Upon close, Endeavor will hold a 51% controlling interest in the new company and existing WWE shareholders will hold a 49% interest in the new company.

Together, UFC and WWE will have global reach, impressive scale and omnichannel distribution. On a combined 2022 fiscal year-end basis, UFC and WWE achieved revenue of $2.4 billion and a 10% annual revenue growth rate since 2019.

“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed,” said Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor. “For decades, Vince and his team have demonstrated an incredible track record of innovation and shareholder value creation, and we are confident that Endeavor can deliver significant additional value for shareholders by bringing UFC and WWE together.”

“Given the incredible work that Ari and Endeavor have done to grow the UFC brand – nearly doubling its revenue over the past seven years – and the immense success we’ve already had in partnering with their team on a number of ventures, I believe that this is without a doubt the best outcome for our shareholders and other stakeholders,” said Vincent K. McMahon, Executive Chairman of WWE.

McMahon continued, “Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity. The new company will be well positioned to maximize the value of our combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster our strong stable of brands. I, along with the current WWE management team, look forward to working closely with Ari and the Endeavor and UFC teams to take the businesses to the next level.”

The new company will be led by Emanuel (Chief Executive Officer), who will also continue in his role as Chief Executive Officer of Endeavor, McMahon (Executive Chairman of the Board) and Mark Shapiro, who will be President and Chief Operating Officer of both Endeavor and the new company. Dana White will continue in his role as President of UFC and Nick Khan will serve as President of WWE. The Board of Directors will consist of 11 members who will be appointed at a later date, six of whom will be appointed by Endeavor and five of whom by WWE.

Together, UFC and WWE expect to deliver an estimated $50 million to $100 million in annualized run rate cost synergies by leveraging, among other things, Endeavor’s back office and robust infrastructure. Endeavor also expects significant growth across revenue areas including domestic and international media rights, ticket sales and yield optimization, event operations, sponsorship, licensing and premium hospitality. Endeavor’s success at UFC, including increasing commercial opportunities that have driven more than 2x Adjusted EBITDA growth since its acquisition in late 2016, demonstrates the significant value creation opportunity and upside potential of having UFC and WWE under one roof.

Transaction Details and Approvals

The transaction values UFC at an enterprise value of $12.1 billion and WWE at an enterprise value of $9.3 billion. The transaction represents a contribution price of WWE of approximately $106 per share (before any post-closing dividend). Additionally, UFC and WWE will each contribute cash to the new company so that it holds approximately $150 million. At closing, Endeavor intends to sweep all excess cash at UFC, and shareholders of the new company (other than Endeavor) are expected to receive a post-closing dividend.

Under the terms of the transaction, existing WWE shareholders will roll all existing equity into the new entity that will be the parent company of UFC and WWE (“NewCo” until it is named at a later date) and intends to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “TKO”. The listing of NewCo will expand the collective investor base to allow for broad market participation across Endeavor and NewCo.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Endeavor and by the Board of Directors of WWE. The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023.

This marks the successful conclusion of WWE’s strategic alternatives review process. WWE embarked on this process to take advantage of the company’s unique position in the entertainment ecosystem as well as the inflection point coming with its media rights renewals, both of which were widely recognized in the marketplace through this process.

Advisors

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are serving as financial advisors to Endeavor, and Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal advisor to Endeavor. The Raine Group is acting as lead financial advisor to WWE. J.P. Morgan and Moelis & Company LLC are also acting as financial advisors to WWE. The Raine Group, J.P. Morgan, and Moelis & Company LLC each rendered fairness opinions to the Board of Directors of WWE. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal advisor to WWE, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal advisor to WWE’s controlling stockholder, McMahon.

Webcast

Endeavor and WWE will make public a recorded audio webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET today discussing this transaction. The event and accompanying presentation materials can be accessed at investor.endeavorco.com or corporate.wwe.com/investors. The link to the webcast, as well as a recording, will also be available on those websites after the call concludes.

# # #

About Endeavor

Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events and experiences. The company is comprised of industry leaders including entertainment agency WME; sports, fashion, events and media company IMG; and premier mixed martial arts organization UFC. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation, sports operations & advisory, event & experiences management, media production & distribution, experiential marketing and brand licensing.

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 228 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About WWE®

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The Company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 25 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, BT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in more than 180 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains, and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements regarding the potential transaction between Endeavor and WWE, including statements regarding the expected timetable for completing the potential transaction, the ability to complete the potential transaction, expected synergies, impacts and benefits of the potential transaction, projected financial information, future opportunities, expected cash distributions and other statements regarding NewCo’s and WWE’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, or future events or performance. Statements that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the expected market opportunity, growth, financial performance, realizable synergies and closing of the transaction. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this communication may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “outlook,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this communication are only predictions. Endeavor and WWE management have based these forward-looking statements largely on their current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that management believes may affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from what is expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the transaction will not be consummated; there may be difficulties with the integration and in realizing the expected benefits of the transaction; Endeavor and WWE may need to use resources that are needed in other parts of its business to do so; there may be liabilities that are not known, probable or estimable at this time; the transaction may result in the diversion of management’s time and attention to issues relating to the transaction and integration; expected synergies and operating efficiencies attributable to the transaction may not be achieved within its expected time-frames or at all; there may be significant transaction costs and integration costs in connection with the transaction; the possibility that neither WWE nor Endeavor will have sufficient cash at close to distribute to shareholders (or that the amount of cash available for distribution will be less than what the parties expect); unfavorable outcome of legal proceedings that may be instituted against WWE and Endeavor following the announcement of the transaction; and risks inherent to the business may result in additional strategic and operational risks, which may impact Endeavor’s, NewCo’s and WWE’s risk profiles, which each company may not be able to mitigate effectively. In addition, a number of important factors could cause Endeavor’s or NewCo’s actual future results and other future circumstances to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those important factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in Endeavor’s or WWE’s respective Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as any such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, Endeavor’s investor relations site at investor.endeavorco.com and WWE’s investor relations site at https://corporate.wwe.com/. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as may be required under applicable law, neither Endeavor nor WWE undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Important Information For Investors And Stockholders

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to, and does not, constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any issuance or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In connection with the transaction, NewCo expects to file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which will include an information statement of WWE and a preliminary prospectus of NewCo. After the registration statement is declared effective, WWE will mail to its stockholders a definitive information statement that will form part of the registration statement on Form S-4. This communication is not a substitute for the information statement/prospectus or registration statement or for any other document that WWE may file with the SEC and send to its stockholders in connection with the transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF WWE ARE URGED TO READ THE INFORMATION STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the information statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by WWE through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by WWE will be available free of charge on WWE’s website at https://corporate.wwe.com/.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to the financials presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), this press release includes certain non-GAAP financial information. Non-GAAP metrics have limitations as analytical tools and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for or superior to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. There are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP metrics versus their nearest GAAP equivalents. Other companies, including those in Endeavor’s and WWE’s industry, may calculate non-GAAP metrics differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of the non-GAAP metrics used in this press release as tools for comparison. Endeavor and WWE urge you to not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the Company and its business. See the presentation available on Endeavor’s investor relations site at investor.endeavorco.com and WWE’s investor relations site at https://corporate.wwe.com for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures.

‘Powerhouse’: WWE, UFC merge to create $21b sporting giant

April 4, 2023

WWE is saying goodbye to existing as a family-run business as it joins with the company that runs Ultimate Fighting Championship to create a $US21.4 billion ($31 billion) sports entertainment company.

The deal announced between Endeavor and World Wrestling Entertainment, on the heels of its biggest event of the year, catapults WWE into a new era after spending decades under the control of the McMahon family.

Vince McMahon purchased Capitol Wrestling from his father in 1982, and took the regional wrestling business to a national audience with stars such as Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, John Cena and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The company, which changed its name to World Wrestling Federation and later World Wrestling Entertainment, hosted its first WrestleMania in 1985.

McMahon, in an interview with CNBC, addressed doubts among some WWE fans and industry experts that he would ever make a deal for the business. “It’s the right time to do the right thing. And it’s the next evolution of WWE,” he said.

In a presentation after the deal was announced, the WWE and Endeavor said that they will cross-promote to drive brand awareness and deepen penetration of their overlapping fan base, more than 700 million UFC fans and 1.2 billion WWE fans worldwide.

Ties already exist talent-wise between WWE and UFC, with stars such as Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey crossing over between the two organisations.

A new publicly traded company will house the UFC and WWE brands, with Endeavor Group Holdings taking a 51 per cent controlling interest in the new company. Existing WWE shareholders will hold a 49 per cent stake.

The companies put the enterprise value of UFC at $US12.1 billion and WWE’s value at $US9.3 billion.

The new business, which does not yet have a name, will be led by Endeavor chief executive officer Ari Emanuel. McMahon, executive chairman at WWE, will serve in the same role at the new company. Dana White will continue as president of UFC and Nick Khan will be president at WWE.

“Together, we will be a $US21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity,” McMahon said in a prepared statement.

He also provided some idea of where the focus of the new company will be, saying that it will look to maximise the value of combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetisation, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster their brands.

Confirmation that WWE is being sold comes after McMahon, a majority shareholder of WWE, returned to the company in January and said that it could be on the block with viewership continuing to rise.

Rumours swirled about who would possibly be interested in buying WWE, with Endeavor, Disney, Fox, Comcast, Amazon and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund all in the mix.

McMahon said on CNBC that there were several buyers interested in WWE, but that combining with Endeavor is the right move.

“It makes all the sense in the world for all these synergies that we have to extract all of the value that we can out of the marketplace,” he explained.

Media industry analysts viewed WWE as an attractive target given its global reach and loyal fanbase.

The company held its marquee event, WrestleMania, over the weekend. The two-day spectacular, held at SoFi Stadium in California, topped the existing global viewership record by 28 per cent on the first night. On the second night, it beat the existing global viewership record by 33 per cent. Merchandise sales for WrestleMania 39 climbed 20 per cent from a year earlier. Last year, WWE booked revenue of $US1.3 billion.

The company is also a social media powerhouse. It surpassed 16 billion social video views in the final quarter of last year. It has nearly 94 million YouTube subscribers and more than 20 million followers on TikTok. Its female wrestlers comprise five out of the top 15 most followed female athletes in the world, across Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, led by Rousey with 36.1 million followers.

WWE had more than 7.5 billion digital and social media views in January and February of this year, up 15 per cent from the same time frame a year ago. And WrestleMania 39 had more than 500 million views and 11 million hours of video consumed over the two days of the event, a 42 per cent increase over last year.

The new company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the “TKO” ticker symbol. Its board will have 11 members, with six being appointed by Endeavor and five being appointed by WWE.

“We like the assets of UFC and also WWE in a world where linear TV is losing market share to streaming, thus live sport content is in high demand,” wrote Jeffries analyst Randal Konik said in a note to clients.

The transaction, which was approved by the boards of Endeavor and WWE, is targeted to close in the second half of the year. It still needs regulatory approval.

Shares of World Wrestling Entertainment, based in Stamford, Connecticut, are up 33 per cent this year, but fell nearly 4 per cent in Monday afternoon trading. Shares of Endeavor, based in Beverly Hills, California, slipped more than 7 per cent.

(AP)

UFC Returns To Australia For UFC 284 In Perth

The Octagon Heads West For UFC 284 As UFC Returns To Australia

OCT. 11, 2022

UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion, today announced its return to Australia for UFC 284 at Perth’s RAC Arena on Sunday, February 12, 2023.

In partnership with the Western Australian Government, through Tourism Western Australia, this event marks UFC’s return to Perth with a Pay-Per-View event following the success of UFC 221: ROMERO vs. ROCKHOLD in February 2018 in front of a capacity crowd.

For those who don’t want to miss a second of the action, fans can start locking in their plans and securing their tickets early as UFC Travel Packages are now available to purchase. Head to www.sportsnetholidays.com/UFC284 to book your spot.

Fight fans wanting to keep up to date with all further bout and ticketing information for UFC 284 can register their interest at www.ufc.com/perth.

This highlight on the Australian summer calendar marks UFC’s highly anticipated return to Aussie shores since October 2019, when the global UFC attendance record was set at UFC 243: WHITTAKER vs. ADESANYA at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

“Australia, we’re back!” said UFC President, Dana White. “I’m so pumped we are returning to Perth for UFC 284 – it was an amazing host city in 2018 and this February we’re bringing a stacked card headlined with a championship fight. Australian fans are some of the best in the world and they’ve had to wait a long time for this. I can’t wait to put on another massive show for them. I will see you there!”

Helping make the announcement today at RAC Arena was UFC featherweight champion and No.1 Men’s Pound-for-Pound athlete in the world, Alex Volkanovski; Peter Kloczko, Vice President of Australia and New Zealand, UFC; and the Hon. Roger Cook, Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, Western Australia.

"Australia has a real appetite for UFC and the event attracts spectators to Perth from across the country,” said Hon. Roger Cook, Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Western Australia.

“The McGowan Government, through Tourism WA, is proud to support the return of this event back to Perth, after the huge success of the 2018 event. Hosting UFC at RAC Arena is expected to attract thousands of people to WA, who will patronise our local accommodation and hospitality business, and inject millions into our State’s economy.”

Peter Kloczko, UFC Vice President Australia and New Zealand added, “We are absolutely thrilled to finally be returning to Australia. Our athletes, fans and partners have been extremely patient to have a UFC event back on Australian soil. I want to thank the McGowan Government and Tourism Western Australia for their continued support for UFC, MMA and making UFC 284 in Perth possible.”

Since 2010, UFC has presented 15 live events in Australia, including sold-out shows at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, Perth Arena, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Gold Coast Convention Centre. Collectively, these events have seen over 265,000 fans in attendance and millions worldwide watching on PPV and broadcast television. The six host cities to date – Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth – have produced a cumulative gross gate of more than $45 million and hundreds of millions more in economic impact.

For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com.

Information regarding media accreditation for the event will be sent out at a later date.

UFC News: Anderson Silva

Ed Soares, the manager for former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, told MMAjunkie.com that "The Spider" has been cleared to return to training MMA. Silva broke his leg last December when Chris Weidman checked a kick.

"We've talked with the UFC, and we'll see what they come up with," said Soares, when asked when Silva might fight again.

Silva (33-6) has lost his last two - both two Weidman - after setting a UFC record with 16 straight wins. His 2,457-day title reign remains the longest in promotion history.

Many, though, wondered if Silva would be able to return from such a devastating injury. The 39-year-old has kept fans up-to-date on his progress, posting numerous videos and messages on social media sites.

- Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos has suffered a hand injury and will not be able to meet Stipe Miocic later this month at The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale. The UFC confirmed the news, which was first reported by Combate.

Dos Santos (16-3) was looking to get back into the win column after a 2013 loss to Cain Velasquez for the UFC heavyweight title. Two of his three career losses have come to Velasquez. "Cigano" is expected to miss several weeks of training with the injury.

So far, the UFC has yet to announce plans for Miocic (11-1) or the main event role at the May 31 card from Sao Paulo. Miocic posted on Twitter that he is "bummed about the news. Wishing dos Santos a quick recovery. Not sure where things stand, but whatever the UFC wants me to do I'm game."

Website

UFC.com