Malcolm Wellmaker is scheduled to face a new opponent in his upcoming preliminary bout at UFC 322. The undefeated American bantamweight will now take on Ethyn Ewing, stepping in after Wellmaker’s original opponent, Cody Haddon, was removed from the card due to an injury, as announced by the UFC on Thursday.
This matchup marks a shift in weight class, as the fight will now occur at featherweight instead of bantamweight. Initially, Wellmaker was set to battle Serhiy Sidey, but Sidey had to withdraw because of a shoulder dislocation.
UFC 322, set for Saturday, Nov. 15, features high-profile bouts, including Jack Della Maddalena defending the welterweight title against Islam Makhachev and women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko facing Zhang Weili. Prelim coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with the main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Wellmaker, sporting an impressive 10-0 record, has made a notable entrance into the UFC, securing two Performance of the Night awards. He achieved first-round knockouts against Cameron Saaiman and Kris Moutinho at Fight Night events in April and June 2025, respectively, both finishing opponents with his powerful right hook. Wellmaker earned his UFC contract after a stunning knockout of Adam Bramhold in Round 1 on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024.
As for his original opponent, Cody Haddon, the 27-year-old was set for his second UFC appearance after a year-long hiatus, having previously won a unanimous decision against Dan Argueta in a Fight Night last October. His scheduled bout against Aleksandre Topuria earlier this year was unfortunately called off.
Ewing, the newcomer, will also be making his UFC debut only days after achieving a bantamweight title at Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 32 on Nov. 7. With an 8-2 professional MMA record, he’s looking to make a significant impact in the octagon as he steps into this high-stakes matchup.
This fight not only highlights Wellmaker’s resilience in the face of opponent changes but also opens up new opportunities for Ewing to showcase his skills on a prominent stage. As UFC 322 approaches, fans eagerly await what promises to be an exciting card filled with potential standout performances.