Ali Akbar RosadyNew York City, NY – The defending champion rarely finds himself in the B-side position on a fight poster, yet that is precisely the scenario Jack Della Maddalena faces as he prepares to defend his welterweight title against the formidable Islam Makhachev at UFC 322. Makhachev, the reigning lightweight king and currently recognized as the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighter, enters Saturday’s highly anticipated pay-per-view main event as a significant favorite, a testament to his dominance. However, dismissing the welterweight champion’s chances would be a significant oversight, as many within the sport believe Della Maddalena possesses a unique skillset capable of challenging Makhachev unlike most.
The primary narrative surrounding UFC 322’s return to Madison Square Garden in New York City centers on Makhachev’s ambitious quest for a second divisional title. Having already etched his name into the record books as the lightweight champion with the most successful defenses, surpassing legends like Khabib Nurmagomedov, B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, and Benson Henderson, Makhachev aims to further solidify his legacy and enter the elite conversation of mixed martial arts’ greatest of all time (GOATs). His professional record stands at an impressive 26 wins and 1 loss, with a current twelve-fight winning streak. This pursuit, however, casts a considerable shadow over the man who already holds gold in the welterweight division.
Della Maddalena, with a professional record of 18 wins and 2 losses, openly acknowledges the underdog status. "I’ve got everything to prove. But I like it that way," Della Maddalena stated in an interview with MMA Fighting. "It gives me more motivation. A lot of drive to prove I’m the champion and then solidify my spot as the top guy. I’m definitely the underdog. I feel like a little bit I’m being written off. Come fight night, and after the fight, I think there’s going to be a lot of different opinions on it."
The perceived lack of respect for Della Maddalena, a relatively new champion, stems from several factors. He is considered largely untested at the highest echelons of the welterweight division. While his unanimous decision victory over Belal Muhammad secured him the title, some analysts and fans were quicker to critique Muhammad’s grinding style and polarizing personality than to fully acknowledge Della Maddalena’s performance and talent. Muhammad, a top-ranked contender known for his relentless wrestling and suffocating pressure, presented a unique challenge, but Della Maddalena navigated it with poise. By contrast, Makhachev, 32, is revered for his consistent dominance, particularly his record-setting lightweight title reign, which included definitive victories over Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski (twice), and Dustin Poirier.
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Makhachev’s signature smothering grappling style, a hallmark of fighters emerging from the Dagestani region, has historically proven to be a nightmare matchup for pure strikers. Many believe Della Maddalena’s natural size as a welterweight may not provide a significant advantage, despite Makhachev making a 15-pound jump in weight. Della Maddalena himself has conceded that he won’t hold a substantial physical edge. The core challenge for Della Maddalena lies not merely in power, but in resisting Makhachev’s control and relentless pressure.
Insights from their most recent title defenses offer a glimpse into the stylistic clash. Makhachev’s latest outing saw him dispatch elite striker Dustin Poirier via submission, showcasing his ability to neutralize dangerous stand-up artists. Della Maddalena, on the other hand, strategically outclassed the dogged wrestler Muhammad, demonstrating improved takedown defense and an ability to recover from compromised positions. Poirier, who has first-hand experience with Makhachev’s grappling, sees a clear pathway for the welterweight champion.
"It’s all going to come down to the takedown defense of JDM," Poirier told MMA Fighting. "If he can get back up to his feet, if he can use the fence, or stay off the fence, use his boxing, I think he definitely could give Islam a lot of troubles in the center of the octagon. He’s a great striker. He’s big and powerful."
Della Maddalena’s potential "secret weapon" in this grappling-heavy contest may be hiding in plain sight: Craig Jones. Jones, a two-time ADCC silver medalist and widely regarded as one of modern Jiu-Jitsu’s most innovative minds, has been actively involved in shaping Della Maddalena’s grappling evolution. His influence could prove pivotal in redefining how Della Maddalena confronts and counters Makhachev’s relentless pressure and control. The integration of Jones’s unconventional, aggressive submission grappling approach into Della Maddalena’s game has already garnered significant attention and optimism from within the sport.
Indeed, several prominent figures in mixed martial arts are publicly backing the welterweight champion for an upset. American Top Team coach Din Thomas and top welterweight contender Sean Brady have both voiced their belief in Della Maddalena’s chances. "He’s a breath of fresh air, and I’m with Brady on this one. I’m picking him to beat Islam," Thomas stated to MMA Junkie. "I think that Craig Jones is the answer in this… I think the answer lies within Craig Jones’ approach of blending in a jiu-jitsu style that these guys aren’t familiar with. We’ve seen it when Alexander Volkanovski fought Islam, and we’ve seen it when Jack fought Belal."
Thomas elaborated on Jones’s imprint, specifically highlighting Della Maddalena’s growing comfort and effectiveness in transitional grappling sequences. Against Muhammad at UFC 315, Della Maddalena successfully stuffed six of nine takedown attempts, but more critically, he demonstrated an uncanny ability to prevent Muhammad from establishing and maintaining ground control. "I think Jack’s going to be very difficult to take down and hold down. He might be taken down, but I think he’s going to be very difficult to hold down if he gets taken down," Thomas asserted. "I think on the feet, he’s so precise. I think he loses the first two rounds possibly, but I think he comes back and does damage later in the fight."
Della Maddalena’s striking prowess was evident in his title-winning effort against Muhammad, where he landed over 200 significant strikes over 25 minutes, consistently bloodying his opponent. His longtime coach, Ben Vickers, believes that unleashing a similar level of sustained pressure and brutality will be key against Makhachev. Vickers suggests that such an approach could expose a weakness Makhachev has rarely been forced to contend with in his dominant career.
"I think Jack will knock him out…" Vickers declared on Submission Radio. "He’s not used to taking damage. He’s not used to being in tough fights with someone pushing the pace, and he’s been knocked out before." While a bold prediction, it is not entirely without precedent. Dustin Poirier, in his recent championship bout against Makhachev, demonstrated that the Dagestani fighter can be tested and even hurt on the feet, particularly when pressured. If Poirier, in the twilight of his career, could trouble Makhachev with his striking, Della Maddalena – a sharper, fresher, and arguably more powerful welterweight striker – could potentially find similar, if not greater, success in stand-up exchanges.
Current oddsmakers list Makhachev as nearly a three-to-one favorite, reflecting widespread belief that this bout will serve as his coronation in a second weight class. In stark contrast, a hypothetical fight between Della Maddalena and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is currently considered a pick’em, highlighting the perceived disparity in competition. Many fans and bettors anticipate a straightforward victory for Makhachev, but those closest to the challenger, and even Makhachev’s own camp, do not share that level of certainty.
Perhaps the most compelling endorsement of Della Maddalena’s threat comes from none other than Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s mentor and former coach. "I think Maddalena is the toughest opponent in Islam’s career," Nurmagomedov told Adam Zubayraev in a Russian-translated interview. "That’s my opinion, not Charles [Oliveira], no one else. None of those other fighters. Not even Ilia, if that fight were to happen. Maddalena is twice the size of Ilia. Taller, bigger, stronger legs, bigger frame. His boxing is just as good. And, in grappling, he scrambles really well if you’ve watched him. For me, if I were preparing Islam for either Ilia or Maddalena, I’d be more concerned about Maddalena."
This extraordinary statement from a figure as knowledgeable and intimately connected to Makhachev’s career as Nurmagomedov underscores the serious challenge Della Maddalena presents. Makhachev’s longtime head coach, Javier Mendez of American Kickboxing Academy, has prepared accordingly, acknowledging the magnitude of the task. Mendez admitted to having watched more tape on Della Maddalena than any previous opponent, a rare statement from one of MMA’s most experienced and decorated minds. "Jack is such a tough customer that if we overlook him, which we haven’t. I’ve actually viewed Jack’s fight with Belal five times," Mendez told MMA Junkie. "I’ve never really done that. That’s how much I respect Jack."
Makhachev himself echoes his team’s profound respect for the challenge ahead. He has structured his training camp specifically around Della Maddalena’s strengths, splitting time between various locations including Russia, Dubai, and New Jersey, to find the ideal sparring partners and body types to simulate his opponent. "It’s going to be a hard fight, honestly," Makhachev told MMA Junkie. "I saw his fight against Belal. He’s good, man. When he began fighting in the UFC, he had problems with wrestling, but now he’s improved because I’ve seen him training a lot with wrestlers and grapplers, and that’s why he’s champion right now. He’s good everywhere. But we will see who’s the best fighter in the world very soon."
UFC 322 presents a pivotal moment for both athletes. For Islam Makhachev, it is a chance to etch his name alongside a select few multi-divisional champions in UFC history, further cementing his claim as an all-time great. For Jack Della Maddalena, it is an opportunity to silence the doubters, defend his title against arguably the sport’s toughest challenge, and establish his own legacy as a dominant force in the welterweight division. The clash of styles, the high stakes, and the deep respect between the camps set the stage for a truly compelling main event.
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