UFC tomorrow: 3 fights flying under the radar at UFC 322

UFC 322 takes place Saturday with two title fights atop the pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The main event will see welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena welcome former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev to the 170-pound division in a massive fight for the division’s title. In the co-feature, women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko puts her title on the line against former strawweight champion Zhang Weili.

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UFC 322’s main card is stacked with exciting matchups throughout the lineup, but a few bouts are flying under the radar.

Here’s our top 3 matchups that shouldn’t be overlooked:

Eric McConico vs. Baisangur Susurkaev

• Records: McConico (10-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Susurkaev (10-0 MMA)

• Betting odds: McConico +630, Susurkaev -1050 (via FanDuel)

• Current Streaks: McConico W1, Susurkaev W10

• USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie Rankings: McConico UR, Susurkaev UR

• How to watch: Early prelims (ESPN+), 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT)

One of the most highly-touted prospects from the recent season of Dana White’s Contender Series is the undefeated Baisangur Susurkaev. The dangerous finisher made his UFC debut one week after his DWCS performance and won by second-round submission. It was a performance he described to MMA Junkie as “very bad” due to fatigue from the immediate turnaround. While Susurkaev will aim to keep his unblemished record intact, Eric McConico looks to stay above .500 in the UFC, as he enters on the heels of his first win in the promotion.

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The UFC’s promotional machine is eager to get fully behind Susurkaev, and a big stoppage win here could vault him into ranked opposition next.

Erin Blanchfield vs. Tracy Cortez 2

• Division: Women’s flyweight

• Records: Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), Cortez (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC)

• Betting odds: Blanchfield -260, Cortez +205 (via FanDuel)

• Current Streaks: Blanchfield W1, Cortez W1

• USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie Rankings: Blanchfield #3, Cortez #10

• How to watch: Televised prelims (ESPNews, ESPN+)

Erin Blanchfield and Tracy Cortez will run back their 2019 bout under the Invicta banner, which Cortez took by split decision. Blanchfield rebounded from that loss with a nine-fight winning streak, including victories in her first six UFC bouts, leading to two main event opportunities. For Cortez, the win over Blanchfield extended a winning streak that reached a total of 11, including victories in her first five UFC bouts, leading to her first main event booking.

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The top 10 competitors have established they belong among the best in the women’s flyweight division, but this rematch will determine who will take the next step toward a No. 1 contender fight. Being on the same timeline as the champion could bode well for the winner, too, as the title is on the line in the co-main event of the evening.

Beneil Dariush vs. Benoit Saint Denis

• Records: Dariush (23-6-1 MMA, 17-6-1 UFC), Saint Denis (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC)

• Betting odds: Saint Denis -194, Dariush +156 (via FanDuel)

• Current Streaks: Dariush W1, Saint Denis W2

• USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie Rankings: Dariush #8, Saint Denis #15

Serving as the main card opener is a top 15 matchup between Beneil Dariush and Benoit Saint Denis. Even in an attention-grabbing spot as the pay-per-view starter, this fight is still flying under the radar among the other big matchups that follow.

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Both fighters have earned five bonuses each throughout their UFC tenure, proving their ability to create exciting finishes and put on incredible battles. Both have had their ups and downs, too, though, which makes this an intriguing matchup in a stacked lightweight division that recently crowned Ilia Topuria as its new champion.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC tomorrow: These UFC 322 fights are flying under the radar