New York, NY – UFC 322 was not just a historic night for fight fans at Madison Square Garden; it was also a lucrative one for Islam Makhachev. The Russian MMA star walked away with an estimated $3.33 million following his dominant victory over Jack Della Maddalena, cementing his status as one of the biggest winners of 2025.
At the UFC 322 post-event press conference, Dana White revealed that the promotion had eight of the top ten gate revenues in Madison Square Garden history, with UFC 322 pulling in an astounding $13.6 million, marking the highest UFC gate revenue of the year.
Makhachev’s highly anticipated welterweight clash against Della Maddalena defied expectations. The bout, predicted by many—including Israel Adesanya—to be a back-and-forth striking battle, instead became a showcase of Makhachev’s grappling mastery. With relentless ground-and-pound and strategic control, Makhachev executed his plan flawlessly, walking away with the title and a lucrative payday.
UFC 322 Fighter Payouts
Islam Makhachev – $3,332,000 (including $800,000 show money + $2.5M PPV)
Jack Della Maddalena – $1,992,000 ($750,000 show money + $1.2M PPV)
Valentina Shevchenko – $1,392,000 (defeated Weili Zhang, who earned $832,000)
Lightweight contenders: Benoit Saint Denis ($338,000), Leon Edwards ($315,000), Beneil Dariush ($272,000), Gerald Meerschaert ($271,000)
Compliance pay for UFC 322 totaled $350,500, the highest of 2025, surpassing previous cards such as UFC 316, UFC 320, and UFC 319.
Performance of the Night
While Fight of the Night went unclaimed, four fighters earned Performance of the Night bonuses: Benoit Saint Denis, Bo Nickal, Michael Morales, and Carlos Prates. Morales’ knockout over Sean Brady stood out, earning him recognition as a future title contender.
Future of Islam Makhachev at Welterweight
Already, the welterweight division is lining up to challenge Makhachev. Fighters like Ilia Topuria, Kamaru Usman, Belal Muhammad, and rising stars such as Michael Morales and Carlos Prates are eyeing the belt. At 34, approaching 35 next year, Makhachev’s coach has hinted that this could be the twilight of his prime. Still, Makhachev remains determined to defend his titles and possibly become a double champion.
“Everybody wants something. This is the most competitive division, welterweight. I’m going to defend my belt many, many times more,” Makhachev said after UFC 322.
With his grappling dominance and tactical prowess, fans and analysts alike are eager to see which matchups Makhachev will take on next in what could be his final run at UFC glory.
