Madison Square Garden in New York hosted the penultimate UFC pay-per-view of the year on Saturday, where two of the sport’s most iconic names strengthened their legacies as some of the greatest fighters in UFC history.
Here’s a look at what could be next for the biggest winners from UFC 322.
Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) entered fight week with questions about whether his aggressive, wrestling-heavy style would translate effectively to a higher weight class. He answered all of them with a dominant performance over Jack Della Maddalena in Saturday’s main event.
The win ties him with Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in UFC history and puts an even bigger target on his back as the list of contenders at 170 pounds continues to grow.
Makhachev and his manager Ali Abdelaziz appear eager to position former champion Kamaru Usman (also managed by Abdelaziz) as the next title challenger. However, that could be a tough sell for the UFC given Usman’s recent inconsistency.
The rightful next contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), remains sidelined with an injury, and asking him to return from a long layoff against someone as formidable as Makhachev is a massive request.
A more realistic option could emerge at UFC Qatar next Saturday. If Ian Machado Garry (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) defeats former champion Belal Muhammad in emphatic fashion, he may punch his ticket to a title shot. If Garry falls short, the UFC may look toward Michael Morales (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), though ideally the undefeated Ecuadorian would be given more time to develop before being thrust into a championship fight.
Valentina Shevchenko
The most dominant female champion in the sport added another impressive win to her résumé in Saturday’s co-main event. Even at 37, Valentina Shevchenko (26-4-1 MMA, 16-3-1 UFC) still appears miles ahead of the rest of the flyweight division.
After dispatching former strawweight champion Zhang Weili, “Bullet” could be matched up with Natalia Silva (19-5-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) next. The Brazilian is unbeaten in the UFC and hasn’t suffered a loss in eight years.
Michael Morales vs. Carlos Prates
Assuming Ian Machado Garry seals his title shot with a win over Belal Muhammad next weekend in Doha, there’s a strong chance the two fighters who delivered first-round knockout victories in New York may be paired up against each other.
Morales has looked like a wrecking ball at 170 pounds, showcasing fight-ending power in each of his UFC bouts. Meanwhile, Carlos Prates (23-7 MMA, 6-1 UFC) continues to carry the Fighting Nerds banner, even as the hype surrounding his teammates has faded throughout the year.
Benoit Saint Denis
Benoit Saint Denis (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) will likely break into the top ten at lightweight when new rankings are released on Tuesday. His 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush in Saturday’s main card opener capped off a strong 2025 for the French contender.
Give him Mateusz Gamrot next.
