Jack
Della Maddalena doesn’t have a date for his expected title
defense against Islam
Makhachev, but it’s never to early to start getting ready for
the pound-for-pound king.
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Della Maddalena claimed welterweight gold with a unanimous decision
triumph against Belal
Muhammad at UFC 315
on May 10 in Montreal. With his friend and training partner no
longer at the top of the division, that cleared the way for
Makhachev to vacate the lightweight strap to pursue championship
dreams in a new weight class.
“I think Islam is a better version of Belal,” Della Maddalena
recently told The West Sport. “The striking on the feet, I think
it’s easier than Belal because he’s more just he’ll stay in one
stance. He’s more [of a] traditional style, but yeah, he’s the
pound-for-pound No. 1 so it’s a tough fight.
“But I guess we will just watch all these fights again, make a
solid game plan, then just start working at it. From pretty much
now, I’m going to start working on ways to beat him, ways to get
back to my feet, stuffing the takedown, but I’m pretty confident I
can get this one done.”
As he begins training for Makhachev, Della Maddalena will call on
his fellow Aussie, Alexander
Volkanovski, for support. The
UFC’s reigning featherweight king fought Makhachev twice in
2023 and gave the Dagestani one of his toughest tests in their
first meeting at UFC 284.
“Yeah, 100 percent, I definitely plan to [work with Volkanovski],”
Della Maddalena said. “After the last two fights, I’ve spent a bit
of time in Woolongong. So yeah, I think, [it will] probably be the
first stop to go to Woolongong, talk to Volk, see what he
reckons.”
Even if it isn’t against Makhachev, Della Maddalena has designs on
eventually defending the belt in his native Perth. However, the UFC
will only hold
a Fight Night in the Australian city in 2025, but a
pay-per-view is scheduled for the following year.
I think it’s gonna happen. It’s inevitable,” Della Maddalena said.
“I truly believe I can beat Makhahev. I’m just going to start
working at it now. I’ve got the right people around me, the right
game plan — I’m gonna make it happen for sure…The dream come true
would be defending the belt in Perth. I think it’s inevitable.
There’s some tough fights ahead, but I”m gonna make it happen. It’s
gonna be a special moment.