New York — Malcolm Wellmaker will still make the walk at UFC 322 after the promotion secured a short-notice replacement for his Madison Square Garden showcase. With original opponent Serhiy Sidey forced out for undisclosed reasons. Australia’s Cody Haddon has been tapped to face Wellmaker on November 15 at “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” per multiple people with knowledge of the booking.
Why It Matters
For Wellmaker (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), the matchup preserves valuable momentum and a marquee slot in New York. The 31-year-old unbeaten bantamweight has finished six of ten wins by KO/TKO and burst onto the roster with back-to-back Performance of the Night bonuses. In June, he needed only one round to stop Kris Moutinho, reinforcing his reputation as a fast starter with fight-ending power.
Who Is Cody Haddon?
Haddon (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) earned his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series and debuted in October 2024. Defeating Dan Argueta via unanimous decision. The Perth native’s lone professional setback came earlier on the regional circuit. A decision loss to future UFC title challenger Steve Erceg. But his high pace and well-rounded game make him a live underdog on short notice.
Stakes and Style Clash
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Wellmaker: Undefeated prospect seeking a third straight UFC win and a rankings push with a statement at MSG.
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Haddon: Big-stage opportunity after a year on the sidelines; a win over an unbeaten American in New York would vault him into the conversation at 135.
Event Snapshot
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Event: UFC 322
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Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
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Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York
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Bout: Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Cody Haddon (Bantamweight)
Bottom line: Wellmaker keeps his Garden moment, while Haddon gets the biggest opportunity of his career—an intriguing prospect-vs-prospect clash on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
