UFC 322 JDM VS MAKHACHEV

UFC 322: Breaking Down an Absolutely Epic Fight Card

What's up, everybody? UFC 322 went down last night, and wow—it was an absolutely stacked card packed with big finishes and insane action. I'm here to give you a full rundown of the night, share my thoughts on the key fights, talk a little technique, and throw in some practical training advice for anyone looking to level up their own mixed martial arts game.

Whether you watched the event or just want to catch up on what happened, you’ll get my honest takes and some behind-the-scenes fight analysis. Let’s get into it!

Quick Overview of UFC 322

Before we dive deep into fight-by-fight breakdowns, let's set the stage. UFC 322 delivered in every aspect—from the hype to the action, the upsets, and the technical masterclass on display. They really did not disappoint with the matchmaking, and the early finishes got the crowd amped from the very first minute.
If you ever wanted an example of UFC promoting the best fighting the best, this was it.

"Great fight card, amazing card. A lot of finishes."

And honestly, that pretty much sums it up. Now, let’s get to the fights!

Saint Denis vs Beneil Dariush

Quick Recap

The card wasted absolutely no time kicking off with fireworks. Saint Denis took on Beneil Dariush and—man—what a blink-and-you'll-miss-it finish.

16 seconds. That's all it took for Saint Denis to land a perfect counter and put Dariush down.

Breaking Down the KO

So, what happened? Dariush tried to use his lead collar tie to throw a knee—a common move in Muay Thai, but a bit riskier in MMA.

When you throw knees in Muay Thai, those big gloves kind of protect you on the way down. MMA is a whole different animal. The small gloves and exposed hands mean counters become a lot more dangerous.

• Dariush went for the knee.
  
• On his way down, he got clipped clean by Saint Denis.
  
• Quick hook, perfectly timed, and Dariush went down hard.

That sequence was a perfect example of why hand fighting and timing are so deadly inside the octagon.

Why Does This Happen In MMA But Not Muay Thai?

In Muay Thai, getting knocked out while throwing knees isn’t nearly as common:

• The gloves are much bigger.
  
• The strikes are easier to deflect.
  
• Less exposed hands mean less risk.

In MMA, a fighter's hands matter—one mistake or second’s delay can mean the end. Excellent timing by Saint Denis, and a risky spot for Dariush.

"Just hands are so important because of that. So you rarely see someone going for a knee in Muay Thai getting knocked out anywhere near as often as you do in MMA."

Carlos Pradas vs Leon Edwards

Ok, time for fight number two—Carlos Pradas vs Leon Edwards.

The Stance Game

First off, props to both guys. This was a back-and-forth battle, and Leon Edwards looked sharp early. I honestly thought Leon had a good chance to take the win.

But then—Edwards made a big switch:

• He started changing stances from southpaw to orthodox.
  
• Historically, Leon’s been an amazing striker as a southpaw.
  
• Recently, he's started switching more, but in this fight it cost him.

The Cost of Switching Stances

He got caught as an orthodox fighter. Pradas stepped right through with a straight left and caught Leon clean—textbook stuff.

Honestly, this is a reminder that:

• If you want to switch stances in a fight, work your defense from both sides.
  
• Don’t get sloppy; just because you can strike from both sides doesn’t mean your defense transitions smoothly.

"Big mistake, in my opinion. You know, switching like that when he already has really good defense and has been so successful as a southpaw, that's definitely risky."

Pro Tip

If you’re coming up in the sport and planning on fighting out of both stances, don’t just focus on your offense. Your defense needs to be sharp regardless of the stance.

• Drill defensive movements from both sides.
  
• Watch tape of fighters who switch stances and learn from their mistakes.

For younger fighters, that could be the difference between a win and a tough KO loss.

Valentina vs Weili

Next up, let’s talk about Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili. Honestly, this one needs its own section, because Valentina put on a clinic.

Is Valentina One of the Greatest?

At this point, Valentina is definitely in the top five greatest fighters in MMA history. She’s just that good.

Watching the fight, it looked like Weili barely won a single exchange. Every time they mixed it up, Valentina was just a split second ahead, landing crisper shots, dictating the pace, and controlling the grappling.

"I don't think Weili won one exchange. As I was watching that fight, I didn't see hardly any exchange she actually got the better of, which is crazy to say."

Valentina’s Grappling Evolution

Here's the insane part: Valentina isn’t just known for her striking anymore. Her grappling has gotten so good—almost scary levels.

• Tough
  
• Durable
  
• Insanely skilled with her hands and grappling

And a huge part of her success on the ground? Grip Strength.

The Grip Strength Factor

You see this with top fighters—Valentina, Islam Makhachev, Georges St-Pierre, and other dominant grapplers. Their grip strength is absurd.

Why does grip strength matter?

• It allows them to pull opponents in tight.
  
• They can control limbs with ease.
  
• When they grab, guys can't break the grip and get loose.

"These people like Valentina, like GSP, like Islam, like all these Russians, they have... abnormal grip strength."

Islam's Grip Strength Example

There was a post-fight viral clip of Islam doing grip strength testing—the numbers he put up were wild. That extra grip power gives guys the edge in takedowns, pinning, and even finishing submissions.

How to Build Grip Strength for MMA

Let’s get practical. If you're a young fighter (or just training for fun), working on grip strength is a gamechanger. Here’s how you can do it at home or in the gym.

Top Exercises for Grip Strength

1. Pull-Ups (All Variations)

• Use a door frame bar or one that clips on.
  
• Standard grip, chin-up grip, wide grip—all help.

2. Rice Bucket Drills

• Grab a bucket of rice, plunge your hands in, and twist, crush, and squeeze.
  
• Even top wrestlers and fighters use this old-school method.

3. Hand Squeezers (Grip Tools)

• Use one while you’re driving.
  
• Squeeze, hold, and release over and over.

"Honestly, the best exercise in the world is pull-ups. If you get to where you can do a lot of pull-ups, that's going to make your grappling go through the roof."

DIY Training Hacks

• Bring grip tools into your daily life.
  
• Driving? Use a hand gripper for reps.
  
• Watching TV? Do rice bucket drills.
  
• In the gym? Add towel pull-ups for extra challenge.

Why It Matters for Offensive Wrestling

Grip strength isn’t just about squeezing hard—it’s about controlling your opponent. If you want to be a takedown specialist, focus on bringing people close, locking up positions, and not letting go.

Valentina and other top names basically ragdoll people because they can grab and never let go.

Islam Makhachev and Russian Grappling Dominance

What Sets Islam Apart

The main event featured Islam Makhachev, who pretty much showed why he now deserves that #1 pound-for-pound spot. He's not just strong—he’s ridiculously dominant.

"Islam main event, you know, too strong, too dominant. Obviously there's more than strength involved here."

The Russian Grappling Blueprint

Russian and Dagestani fighters have something special in their style:

Combines high-level wrestling with black belt-level jiu jitsu pressure

• They can shoot and take people down like All-American wrestlers.
  
• But they also keep people down, pass, and control—a total jiu jitsu master vibe.

Combat Sambo and sports sambo give these fighters an insane toolkit. When you add in a lifetime of training, the results are obvious: pure dominance.

Wrestling + BJJ Pressure = Unstoppable

Most opponents aren’t scrubs—they have world-class technique, too. But the control and grip of these Russian fighters sets them apart.

• They can take you down.
  
• Hold you down.
  
• Submit.
  
• Dominate the rounds.
  

The Potential for a Three-Division Champion?

Islam is now a two-division champion—basically pound-for-pound #1. There was even talk about Topuria moving up for a three-division run.
Imagine that for a second:

• Three-division champion
  
• A new GOAT conversation

Would be crazy to see it happen, even though weight is a real challenge.

Let’s hope the UFC finds a way to make it happen!

Fights Are Lessons: Key Takeaways from UFC 322

There’s so much to learn from a stacked card like UFC 322—whether you're a fighter, a fan, or a student of the sport.

Practical Takeaways for Fighters and Fans

1. Timing Beats Power

• Saint Denis’ KO proves that. The perfect counter trumps raw force.

2. Train Both Stances...But Practice Your Defense

• If you plan to switch like Leon, put in the defensive reps.

3. Grip Strength Is Everything

• Want to win on the ground? Squeeze, crush, and grip everything.

4. Respect the Dominance of Elite Grappling

• Islam and Valentina are proof—technique + grip wins titles.

Advice for People New to Martial Arts

If this card has you fired up and you want to start training, finding the right gym is step one. There’s plenty of places out there, but you’ve gotta choose wisely—good instructors and safe, solid training environments make all the difference.

Check out my book: The Ultimate Guide to Choose Your Martial Arts School and Instructor if you want to skip the trial and error and start out on the right foot.

Get the book.

Want Me to Break Down More Fights?

If you liked this breakdown or want deeper analysis on a certain fight, leave a comment below! I check all of them and love hearing what people want broken down. UFC has some wild cards coming up and I’m here for all of it.

Conclusion: UFC 322 Delivered, and Then Some

To sum it up, UFC 322 had everything:

• Fast finishes
  
• High-level technique
  
• Major upsets
  
• Legends showing why they’re legends

Whether you’re new to MMA or a hardcore fan, this card had enough drama and skill to satisfy everyone. Let me know what you thought of the event in the comments below!

If you’re just getting into martial arts and want some help, grab my book and reach out. And for any other topic, fight, or technical breakdown you want, just let me know.

"If you have any other subjects you'd like me to break down, or any fights you want me to analyze, just leave a comment below. Thank you guys."

Thanks for reading, everybody. See you soon for another fight breakdown! 👊