Fight Week at Boston Jiu Jitsu: Who Takes the UFC 322 Main Event?
- Akmboh v2
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
This weekend at Boston Jiu Jitsu, the mats will be buzzing with energy as fight-fans tune in and train ahead of the big UFC-style card. Whether you’re there for rolling drills or post-class commentary, the talk inevitably turns to people’s favourite picks—and why certain fighters are resonating with our jiu-jitsu community. Training at BJJ does more than shape technique—it sharpens how we read grapplers who might transition well into MMA, and that viewpoint gives our picks a bit more nuance.
One common pick among students: the fighter with a strong ground game who looks relaxed under pressure. In a card packed with strikers and grapplers alike, we’re backing the ones who show fluid transitions, solid base, and an ability to scramble. The reasoning here is simple: in jiu-jitsu you learn that matchups often come down to control and composure, not just brute strength or flashy strikes. So when someone shows a history of surviving bad moments, avoiding getting pinned, and turning defense into attack, they resonate with our crowd as “safe-ish” picks.
On the flip side, the favourite pick of the fighters who train late night? The underdog who plays a high-risk/high-reward game: heavy submission hunting, aggressive guard pull, or relentless takedowns. In BJJ we often root for the fighter who isn’t content to cruise—they want the finish. The reason these picks are popular: they mirror the spirit we live in class. When you’re drilling heel hooks or omoplatas, you appreciate someone who goes for the surprise, the submission scramble, and the transition from disadvantage to dominant position. If the odds suggest the favorite might grind one out, the underdog who brings thunder and looks comfortable off-his-back feels like the “fun” pick.
Finally, there’s the community-consensus pick: the fighter whose cardio looks clean, whose recent record shows adaptation, and whose strike-to-grapple mix seems well-balanced. In jiu-jitsu we’re familiar with “if you do nothing wrong, you still win”—so the pick that reflects someone avoiding major mistakes, staying disciplined, and showing incremental growth draws support. This weekend many of us at Boston Jiu Jitsu will be discussing not just “who wins?” but how wins: by takedown, by submission, by striking. Because at the end of the day, the techniques we drill, the escapes we build, the scrambles we love—they all give us a lens for watching the fight. Whether your favorite wins or the underdog shocks the world—either way, the mats will next week echo with the highlights.
This weekend the spotlight turns to the headliner of UFC 322 — a title clash between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev. At Boston Jiu Jitsu the conversation is buzzing: many of our students and guests are backing Della Maddalena to defend his welterweight crown. The reason? His explosive finishing record, aggressive pace, and younger legs give him the appeal of the “firefighter style” – if things go south he often forces the issue. On the mat that’s the kind of person you root for: someone who makes damage happen.
On the flip side though, there’s a strong argument for Islam Makhachev. As a former lightweight champion stepping up to 170 lbs, his grappling pedigree, calm under fire, and a long winning streak make him the classic jiu-jitsu guy’s pick: steady, technical, hard to submit. At our school when someone exhibits strong base, smart transitions and takedown control, you know they one-to one survive the bad moments. Many of us feel Makhachev has that built-in advantage.
Here’s our picks:
Pick #1: Jack Della Maddalena — I like him to win via TKO or late stoppage. He’s the fresher fighter at 170, he’ll push pace, and he may catch Makhachev before he locks in rhythm.
Pick #2: Islam Makhachev — I respect the climb, the technique, the suspendable pressure. If he keeps it calm, controls the clinch and the mat, he can win a decision and maybe pull something special.
Now we want your take: Who are you picking? Why do you favour them — is it their takedowns, their submissions, their cardio or striking? Drop your thoughts, and (if you like) your “how they win” method as well (e.g., “via rear-naked choke”, “round 3 TKO”, etc.). We’ll talk it out in class Monday and let the mats decide post-fight.
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