Malcolm Wellmaker Gets Third Opponent on Fight Week

NEW YORK —Hopefully, the third name is the charm for Malcolm Wellmaker. Just hours before stepping on the scale for UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden, the undefeated bantamweight contender (10–0 MMA, 2–0 UFC) received word of another opponent switch. After original foe Serhiy Sidey withdrew with injury and short-notice replacement Cody Haddon was forced out during fight week, Ethyn Ewing (8–2 MMA) has agreed to make his UFC debut on ultra-short notice.

“My new opponent is Ethyn Ewing. I know as much about him as y’all do, but he stepped up to take the fight,” Wellmaker said on Instagram. “It breaks my heart I’m not fighting Cody Haddon anymore… but I’m grateful to have a replacement.”

From sparring videos to the world’s most famous arena

Wellmaker’s first year on the roster has been blistering. He needed less than two minutes to stop Cameron Saaiman in April with a right hook, then replicated the finish against Kris Moutinho in June two first-round knockouts, two bonuses, and a fast-rising reputation at 135 pounds.

Ewing arrives riding an eight-fight winning streak with seven KOs, fresh off a first-round knockout to claim the bantamweight title at Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 32 last Friday. Now he jumps from regional gold to the bright lights of MSG in the span of a week.

What the late switch means

• Game-plan chaos: Wellmaker has prepped for three distinct styles in one camp. Composure and fundamentals jabs, cues for the right hand, and smart cage craft become the safe currency on fight night.

• Debut adrenaline vs. polish: Ewing’s power and momentum are real, but UFC debuts on hours’ notice can amplify reads and gas management.

• Risk and reward: For Wellmaker, a third straight finish cements top-15 talk despite the upheaval. For Ewing, this is swing-for-the-fences opportunity shock the favorite and skip the queue.