Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Ethyn Ewing UFC 322 Prediction & Betting Picks (November 15th, 2025)
UFC 322 underwent its first major facelift prior to Saturday’s massive event, as undefeated prospect Malcolm Wellmaker got a new opponent on short notice.
Wellmaker was a -160 favorite to take out Cody Haddon, but Haddon was forced out of UFC 322 and replaced quickly by the surging Ethyn Ewing. Ewing holds an 8-2 record and has been on fire, claiming a big knockout win just last week.
Ewing gets a massive opportunity on incredibly short notice, as he will make his official UFC debut against one of the sport’s more tantalizing up-and-comers.
Wellmaker’s 2-0 record inside the UFC and vicious finishing ability still have him pegged to get a win at UFC 322, with his odds spiking to -550 at ESPN Bet. Of course, the new wrinkle in this weekend’s festivities has bettors unsure as to how to wager.
Want to know what side to take or where the value is at? Join me as I analyze the latest odds, single out my favorite bets, and offer my Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Ethyn Ewing prediction.
Event Overview
- Event: UFC 322
- When: Saturday, November 15
- Where: Madison Square Garden Arena In New York, New York
- Schedule: Preliminary Card – 8:00 pm ET
- How to Watch: Streaming on ESPNNEWS, ESPN Deportes and Disney+
- See the full UFC 322 card
Current Betting Odds & Market Snapshot
Check out the Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Ethyn Ewing odds over at ESPN Bet:
| Bet | Odds |
|---|---|
Malcolm Wellmaker | -550 |
Ethyn Ewing | +375 |
Fight Goes the Distance | OFF |
Method of Victory | N/A |
Total Rounds | Over 1.5 (+125) | Under 1.5 (-160) |
What the Odds Tell Us
The pricing clearly suggests that Malcolm Wellmaker is the more talented and dangerous fighter. He is fully expected to win and is a major threat to end this fight early, which is why wagers for the method of victory and whether it goes the distance presently aren’t available.
The Wellmaker vs. Ewing odds for total rounds further that sentiment, as this fight is priced as one that will end via stoppage, and isn’t very likely to go past the second round.
Matchup Preview & Fighter Profiles
Malcolm Wellmaker (10-0)
Wellmaker is one of the more exciting UFC prospects. He first made a name for himself when he rocked Adam Bramhald in Dante White’s Contender Series, and he’s 2-0 with two devastating KOs since graduating to the big show.
Despite being a striker at heart with excellent pacing and crushing power, he does have some floor game, as evidenced by two career submissions. His defense is elite against takedowns so far, and he’s obviously never been finished in any regard.
I will say that he has a very calm and controlled demeanor when he fights, but he often does leave himself open to some big shots. He will need to avoid that or withstand some punishment against a relatively dangerous opponent.
Wellmaker enters as a huge favorite due to his power, as he has scored three straight knockouts with one punch. The level of competition he’s faced has not been amazing, but he’s passed every test with flying colors so far.
Ethyn Ewing (8-2)
Ewing deserves a lot of credit for jumping to the highest level of mixed martial arts on incredibly short notice. On top of that, he literally fought a week ago, so there has to be serious fatigue and preparation concerns.
I think Ewing is going to give it a go and try to shock the world, but short-notice fights rarely go as planned, and this plays to Wellmaker’s advantage in a big way.
That said, Ewing has a nice combination of wrestling and power in his back pocket. He does lose height and reach in this matchup, but he has some vicious striking ability of his own and has shown a consistent tendency to finish opponents standing up or on the mat.
Ewing is on a tear of his own, as he hasn’t lost since 2022 (8 straight wins) and has finished the guy across from him in each of his last three fights. Two of those came in 2025 alone, as he KO’d Billy Brand last week with one punch, and dropped Santos Verdinez in January with a head kick.
He actually might be slightly more versatile than Wellmaker, but in terms of raw power and overall talent, he is correctly labeled as the underdog.
Tale of the Tape
| Malcolm Wellmaker | Ethyn Ewing | |
|---|---|---|
Record | 10-0 | 8-2 |
Height | 5’10” | 5’8” |
Reach | 71” | 68.5” |
Stance | Switch | Orthodox |
Style | Striker | Striker |
Both fighters have good-to-great records and have elite striking ability. Ewing profiles as the slightly more versatile mixed martial artist, while Wellmaker has a clear height and reach advantage.
Key Matchup Factors to Watch
These guys both like to stand up and trade. Ewing is probably going to be a bit more eager to switch things up and lean into his wrestling background, but my guess is we see this fight play out on the feet.
- Height & Reach: Ewing could try to test Wellmaker on the mat, but height and reach disadvantages – not to mention Wellmaker’s strong takedown defense – are probably going to prevent that from being a sound strategy.
- Raw Power: Both of these guys can absolutely end this thing early. Neither have ever been KO’d, but it’s been their main path to wins. They are both explosive and have proven to be plenty patient to wait for the perfect opening.
- Fatigue: I assume Ewing feels good enough for his UFC debut, but fighting twice in one week sounds insane. He may not have a ton of gas in the tank for this one, so lasting beyond two rounds seems unlikely.
Best Bets & Betting Strategy
Check out my top Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Ethyn Ewing bets at UFC 322:
| Bet | Reasoning | Confidence Level |
|---|---|---|
Under 1.5 Rounds (-165) | These guys are elite finishers who typically end fights early. Neither has ever been KO’d, but something tells me that will change at UFC 322. | 9/10 |
Malcolm Wellmaker ML (-550) | I think there is value with Ewing at +375 just for fun (YOLO, etc), but Wellmaker is going to win this fight. The -550 ML is poor value, but you can toss this on a UFC 322 parlay. | 9/10 |
Don’t get caught by surprise—odds often shift as fight night nears. Check updated lines before you wager, and browse our trusted sports betting sites to secure the best prices and fastest payouts.
Risk Factors & Things to Watch
Things can go wrong when betting on a high-variance sport like MMA. Here’s why our Wellmaker vs. Ewing picks could fail:
- One Punch: It takes just one clean shot from a powerful striker like Ewing to shock the collective UFC world. Wellmaker seems to have a strong chin, and he’s the more likely knockout threat, but the UFC is unpredictable, and Ewing has a puncher’s chance.
- Unknown: The other thing working to Ewing’s advantage – just as much as you could argue it a disadvantage for him – is the fact that Wellmaker has had zero time to prepare for him. In training, you work on aspects of your game and prep for a specific opponent, but a lack of familiarity could help Ewing in this spot.
- Too Patient: As for the total rounds bet, it’s always possible we have two gifted strikers who don’t get knocked out and wait too long to look for the perfect shot. Maybe we just get a ton of damage and we make it through three rounds with the best fight of UFC 322.
The Bottom Line: Wellmaker Gets Another Knockout
Ultimately, my Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Ethyn Ewing prediction isn’t going to shock you.
I do think Ethyn Ewing is an interesting fighter. He certainly is skilled, he has good pace, and he’s adept at pressuring and finishing bouts early. He’s also coming in on remarkably short notice and going up against a more talented prospect. This will be Ewing’s UFC debut, too, and he simply has never faced someone as good as Wellmaker, nor does he have experience against top tier talent like his opponent does.
An upset is always possible because it’s the UFC, but a Wellmaker win – and probably an early finish – is what I see happening in this fight.
I don’t suggest laying a ton of money on Wellmaker’s -550 moneyline, though. That is a bet to add to a parlay. I’d also be on the lookout for more Welmaker vs. Ewing bets to drop, and I’d be very interested in the Method of Victory prop (namely for KO).
Final Prediction Summary
- Total Rounds Under 1.5 (-165) — Confidence: 9/10
- Fight Winner: Malcolm Wellmaker (-550) — Confidence: 9/10
