Sun Nov 16 05:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Double-Champ History on the Line at UFC 322

New York, NY – UFC 322 this Saturday could see two new names added to the elite list of fighters who have held championships in two different weight classes. The event, held at Madison Square Garden, features two compelling title fights where champions are venturing into new divisions to chase double-champ status.

Headlining the card, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will move up to welterweight to challenge current titleholder Jack Della Maddalena. In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko defends her women’s flyweight championship against Zhang Weili, who previously vacated her strawweight title to pursue flyweight gold.

Currently, only ten fighters in UFC history have achieved the rare feat of holding titles in two weight divisions. The exclusivity is due in part to the significant size disparity between weight classes in MMA, making it a monumental challenge to compete at a championship level across multiple divisions.

Of the current double-champions, only Amanda Nunes represents the women’s division. Zhang Weili, a slight underdog (+102 according to DraftKings), is aiming to become the second.

A Look Back at Double-Champ Legends:

The current list of double-champions includes legends like Randy Couture, who dominated both heavyweight and light heavyweight, and B.J. Penn, who defied expectations by capturing welterweight gold before finding success at lightweight. More recently, the accomplishment has seen a surge with fighters like Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, and Ilia Topuria adding their names to the history books in the past two years.

The Current Landscape:

The UFC’s approach to champions challenging for titles in other divisions has evolved, with some fighters previously holding both belts simultaneously. This allowed for reigns like Conor McGregor holding both the featherweight and lightweight titles simultaneously, or Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Henry Cejudo who also held simultaneous championships.

However, many fighters have attempted and failed to achieve double-champ status, highlighting the difficulty of the feat.

Saturday’s event promises high stakes, with the potential to significantly alter the landscape of UFC history. Whether Makhachev and Weili can break through and claim their second titles remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: UFC 322 will be a night to remember.

(Note: Check your local TV provider for viewing options.)

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