UFC 322 on Saturday night delivered some highlight reel knockouts and historic moments on the main card. In the first three bouts of the featured portion of the event, Benoit Saint-Denis, Carlos Prates, and Michael Moraels scored big knockouts over established stars in their divisions.
In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko proved once again she is the greatest flyweight of all time by turning away the challenge of future Hall of Famer Zhang Weili. And in the headliner, Islam Makhachev became just the 11th fighter to win belts in two UFC divisions.
So what will be next for the main card winners from UFC 322? We offer up some predictions on how those fighters will follow up their big victories this weekend.
Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Renato Moicano
After his momentum was derailed by a pair of losses, BSD has caught fire again and won three straight. The best of the trio came at UFC 322 when he blasted through lightweight rankings stalwart Beneil Dariush in 15 seconds. He deserves another fight with a name opponent at the back end of the top 10.
That is why a rematch with Renato Moicano would be interesting. The Brazilian dominated the Frenchman before the fight was stopped in Round 2 due to a cut. If Saint-Denis wants to prove he is a real contender at 155 pounds, avenging that 2024 defeat makes sense, especially if Moicano is willing to take the risk.
Carlos Prates vs. Joaquin Buckley
Carlos Prates has rebounded from his April loss to Ian Machado Garry with a pair of huge knockout wins. The latest came at UFC 322 when he slept former division king Leon Edwards. While he won’t get a title shot next, he will be booked in another big fight early in 2026. That should be Joaquin Buckley.
“New Mansa” was on fire until a June loss to Kamaru Usman. He has been a monster at welterweight, and a fight with Prates could be an easy UFC Fight Night headliner. It has Fight of the Year potential, and a win for either would be another big statement for them.
Michael Morales vs. Jack Della Maddalena
There are some around the sport who feel Michael Morales’ impressive KO win over Sean Brady should earn him a title shot next. That is unlikely. But why not a scrap in 2026 with the next best thing, former champion Jack Della Maddalena?
Maddalena is not getting a rematch after being dominated by Makhachev. He needs a win to get back into the title picture, and getting one against the hottest fighter in the division would do that. For the Ecuadorian, a victory over JDM would stamp his place as next in line for a title shot next year.
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Kayla Harrison
Shevchenko is making a real case as the best female fighter of all time after adding Zhang Weili to her hit list. She seems in no rush to retire, but she should maximize her small window of competing at an elite level while she can. That is why a rumored fight with bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison is a must if it is at all possible.
Going back up to 135 pounds and winning gold in a second division might push her to the top of the women’s GOAT debate. Furthermore, if the bout were to happen on the White House card, it seems like a perfect booking for such a historic event.
Islam Makhachev vs. Kamaru Usman
At UFC 322, Makhachev once again confirmed he is the best fighter on the planet. There are several interesting options for him as the new welterweight king. However, based on UFC’s booking history, it seems very likely his next opponent will be Kamaru Usman.
The company loves booking big names against each other, and Usman is the next biggest at 170 pounds besides the champ. Plus, the division legend is set to turn 39 in May, and the promotion will want to squeeze out any relevancy he has left. The fact that they are friends will add some unique intrigue to the matchup as well.
