A respectful rivalry between welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev still required Dana White to keep a close eye on things after the fighters competing in the UFC 322 main event refused to break eye contact during a tense faceoff on Thursday.

Michael Page doesn't see Islam Makhachev being able to implement a heavy grappling approach against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.

Jack Della Maddalena will take "vicious intentions" into his first UFC welterweight title defence in New York City this weekend, believing his boxing will carry him to victory over the more fancied Islam Makhachev.

Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are finalizing a deal for a heavyweight fight on Netflix in December in Miami, sources tell @ringmagazine. Paul steps up massively to fight the former heavyweight champion after his exhibition with Gervonta Davis was cancelled. Major props to Paul. pic.twitter.com/lr8OdmapUN

Although Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) is challenging welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in Saturday's headliner (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Disney+/FX, ESPN+) at Madison Square Garden in New York, Cormier sees a lot at stake for his former teammate.

Islam Makhachev will look to become a two-weight UFC champion on Saturday night. The former lightweight king will challenge welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. Israel Adesanya thinks Islam Makhachev will get KO’d inside three rounds at Madison Square Garden.