UFC 322 sleepers and swing bouts that can steal the show

Why sleepers matter on this card

With a champ-vs-champ headliner and a co-main with broader title implications, it’s easy to overlook the middle of the bill. That’s a mistake. Several undercard fights feature surging prospects, veteran gatekeepers with proven finishing arsenals, and rematches loaded with subtext. Our UFC 322 sleepers short-list balances likelihood of action, divisional stakes, and style volatility — the stuff that flips broadcasts and reshuffles rankings overnight.

Sean Brady vs Michael Morales — elite grappler meets rangy pressure boxer

As welterweight reloads around a new champion, this is the division’s most consequential non-title pairing. Brady brings a suffocating top game built on chain-wrestling into riding pressure and wrist control; when he gets above the hips, he rarely cedes the position. Morales, meanwhile, is a long, poised striker who builds volume behind a tight jab and punishing counters. The swing factor is cage position: if Brady backs Morales to the fence and forces reactive shots, we could see long stretches of mat time. If Morales keeps the lead foot outside and checks level changes with uppercuts and frames, the kicking game opens — and with it, the momentum.

• Swing key: Underhook awareness vs. fence; Morales’ ability to turn and re-center after sprawls.
• Why it’s a sleeper: Tactical chess that can suddenly detonate—either a scramble into a back take or a pull-counter that flips the round.

Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates — veteran craft versus ascending knockout threat

This is the archetypal “prove-you-still-belong” assignment for a former champion and a high-upside finisher trying to skip the queue. Edwards’ southpaw economy, stance switches, and defensive reads remain elite; he forces opponents into overreaching and punishes mistakes with counters and opportunistic clinch breaks. Prates is tall, mean down the center, and loves knees and long right hands against southpaws. If Edwards dictates range with the left kick and wins hand-fighting on the lead side, we’ll see him blunt the aggression and bank minutes. If Prates consistently corrals Leon near the warning track and commits to body work early, the last seven minutes get dangerous.

• Swing key: Clinch entries off caught kicks; Edwards’ defensive grappling if Prates overextends.
• Why it’s a sleeper: Classic “IQ vs. heat” matchup with sneaky finish equity both ways.

Roman Kopylov vs Gregory Rodrigues — technical body work vs. marauding offense

If you’re chasing a bonus candidate, circle this one. Kopylov’s boxing is clean and body-targeted; he breaks posture with jabs and digs hooks and kicks to the midsection to drain explosiveness. Rodrigues (“Robocop”) is controlled chaos: pressure, big entries, and a willingness to trade to find the chin—plus a serious top game when scrambles land on the mat. The pendulum here is shot selection under fire. Kopylov’s best path is attrition: jab, step off, spear the body, and punish overhands with counters. Rodrigues’ path is to crowd early, mix level changes, and force exchanges against the fence before Kopylov gets readings.

• Swing key: Body damage accumulation by Kopylov vs. early momentum swings from Rodrigues.
• Why it’s a sleeper: Both men can finish and both are hittable—pace plus power equals volatility.

Beneil Dariush vs Benoit Saint Denis — savvy southpaw toolkit vs. avalanche pressure

As a pay-per-view opener or featured prelim, this is appointment viewing. Dariush remains one of the craftiest southpaws at lightweight, with strong inside-low kicks, an ambush left, and back-pocket grappling that punishes sloppy shots. Saint Denis is a momentum fighter: cardio, volume, and pressure that forces a series of bad choices. If Dariush can win the first seven minutes with angles and kick-counters, he can corral BSD into reactive takedowns and attack the neck. If Saint Denis survives the initial traps and turns this into a pace war, the accumulation may overwhelm even durable veterans.

• Swing key: Dariush’s pocket exits after left-hand counters; BSD’s body work to sap the legs.
• Why it’s a sleeper: Stylistic polarity with late-fight swing potential.

Erin Blanchfield vs Tracy Cortez — rematch leverage at women’s flyweight

The first meeting years ago was a narrow decision; both athletes are markedly improved. Blanchfield’s top pressure, back-taking instincts and ride control have turned elite opposition into long defensive rounds. Cortez counters with stout wrestling fundamentals, strong hips, and measured boxing that plays well at mid-range. The subtext: Blanchfield’s stop-start 2025 campaign has left her hungry to reassert top-contender status, and a dominant win reclaims pole position. For Cortez, a victory over a ranked mainstay vaults her into immediate title-conversation traffic.

• Swing key: First takedown success rate; Blanchfield’s ability to trap wrists on mat returns.
• Why it’s a sleeper: High-stakes grappling with extended sequences and razor-thin margins.

Bo Nickal vs Rodolfo Vieira — folkstyle pressure vs. world-class jiu-jitsu

This is the grappling purist’s popcorn fight. Nickal’s entries are clean, and his mat returns and ride positions translate brilliantly in MMA. Vieira, a decorated submission artist, is most dangerous in transitions and scrambles where grips form before posture settles. Expect early fencing over head-and-arm control and half-guard battles; the deciding factor may be who wins first grips after takedown landings. If Nickal floats and prioritizes wrist control over damage early, he can drain the clock; if Vieira entangles legs or latches front headlocks during stand-ups, one mistake can be lights out.

• Swing key: Hand-fighting discipline inside Nickal’s rides; Vieira’s ability to create dilemmas on the stand-up.
• Why it’s a sleeper: One scramble can flip the entire bout—submission or momentum avalanche.

Other matchups with sneaky upside

• Kyle Daukaus vs Gerald Meerschaert: grappling scrambles with opportunistic guillotine and arm-triangle threats both ways.
• Angela Hill vs Fatima Kline: veteran shot selection and pace against a hungry climber—could be a striking clinic with late drama.
• Pat Sabatini vs Chepe Mariscal: wrestler-top-gamer vs pressure brawler—either a grind or a barnburner if takedowns stall.

How the broadcast may frame these fights

• Lineage and momentum: Former champions and legends anchoring divisions while new names push through.
• Geography storylines: tri-state representation on the prelims adds arena energy during Blanchfield–Cortez.
• Championship adjacency: multiple sleepers double as title eliminators or next-in-line auditions depending on results.

FAQ: UFC 322 sleepers

What do we mean by “UFC 322 sleepers”?

Fights outside the two title bouts that have high action potential or significant divisional stakes, often buried on the prelims or middle of the main card.

Which sleeper has the most rankings impact?

Brady vs Morales at welterweight could create an immediate title-track lane for the winner.

Which sleeper is most likely to produce a bonus?

Kopylov vs Rodrigues—both are aggressive, hittable, and finish-oriented.

What time do the prelim sleepers start in Estonia?

Early prelims begin at 01:00 EET on Sunday, November 16; featured prelims are slated for 03:00 EET.