Joaquin Buckley predicts a new welterweight champion at UFC 322.
Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) makes his first title defense against Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) in Saturday’s main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Buckley, who saw his six-fight winning streak snapped by Kamaru Usman in June, thinks Makhachev’s grappling will be too much for Della Maddalena.
“Islam’s going to slow up the whole division, but I’m happy that he’s moving up and he’s taking on a new challenge,” Buckley said on his YouTube channel. “JDM has massive knockout power, has excellent boxing, has excellent striking, but that ain’t going to mean nothing when you’re on your back. So Islam immediately, when they fight, he’s going to push him up against the cage, he’s going to take him down to the canvas, and he’s going to hold him there as long as he can.
“But you already know, Islam, he’s not just going to hold you down and just wait for the decision. He’s a finisher. With the amount of weapons that he has – he’s got the D’Arce, he’s got the anaconda, he got the head-and-arm chokes, so he’s coming for that neck. So JDM, if he’s unable to keep the fight from going to the ground, he’s finished. He’s done.”
Not only does Buckley see Makhachev’s wrestling being a problem, he doesn’t see the fight going the distance.
“I’ve got Islam beating JDM in the third round either via TKO or submission,” Buckley said.
