New York, NY — “One of the best fighters ever in the UFC, so I’m looking forward to testing myself against him.” That’s how Jack Della Maddalena views his UFC 322 main event title fight with Islam Makhachev this Saturday.
Since becoming welterweight champion at UFC 315 in Montreal earlier this year, not much has changed for Australia’s JDM. In his mind, it’s just a matter of getting “on to the next big challenge.”
That big challenge has arrived in Makhachev, who vacated his lightweight title earlier this year to pursue a second belt. Maddalena called it a “legacy fight” during Wednesday’s UFC 322 media day, with Cageside Press on hand. He also noted that with Makhachev, you have to expect the ground game to come into play.
“Going in there five rounds with Islam, you’ve got to expect to at least hit the ground at some point. He’s battle-tested, he’s been in there against some of the best guys, so expect to hit the ground, but it’s what he can do with that,” stated Maddalena. “Obviously perfect world, keep him away, not be able to hit the ground, but we expect a full mixed martial arts battle.”
Makhachev, when announcing his move to welterweight, infamously claimed he didn’t see any tough fights for him in the division. Asked for a response, JDM kept it respectful. “We’ll see. I’ve got the skills. I think everyone can give people tough fights. I think if he’s not expecting a tough fight, he’ll be in for a rude awakening.”
Jack Della Maddalena might have been overlooked ahead of his title fight against Belal Muhammad in Montreal. The same is not happening ahead of the New York card, with many fans and fellow fighters picking the Australian to get the better of Islam Makhachev. Either way, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster, from underdog to having a large portion of the fanbase believing in him— except internally at least, nothing much has changed for him.
“I still feel like I’m the underdog, I still have that underdog mentality. I feel like I’ve got everything to prove, so not much has changed. I enjoy the underdog role,” he told Cageside Press.
For what it’s worth, Tapology has JDM as a moderate underdog in the fight. Maddalena might be on to something.
Watch the full UFC 322 media day appearance with Jack Della Maddalena above.
