Kamaru Usman Analyzes Jack Della Maddalena's Mental State During Dominant UFC 322 Defeat

The aftermath of UFC 322’s main event saw Jack Della Maddalena’s aspirations for welterweight supremacy tempered by a comprehensive shutout loss to Islam Makhachev, a defeat that former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman suggests revealed a critical mental shift in the Australian contender. Della Maddalena’s facial expressions throughout the 25-minute grappling masterclass at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 9, 2024, provided a visible narrative of his struggle, leading Usman to pinpoint a precise moment when he believes "JDM" began to mentally unravel under the relentless pressure.

Usman, offering his expert analysis on his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast, meticulously observed Della Maddalena’s demeanor as the fight progressed, particularly highlighting a pivotal sequence. "You see that face that JDM had right there?" Usman questioned his co-host, Henry Cejudo, referring to specific footage from the bout. "There’s that face while he’s trying to—you see that face… There’s that face right when Islam gets that double… There’s that face of, ‘I’m trying to fight, but this dude can’t freaking let me.’ That right there is when you start to [makes breaking motion]." Usman’s gesture vividly conveyed his belief that it was at the point of Makhachev securing a crucial double-leg takedown that Della Maddalena’s mental resolve, if not his physical ability, began to falter, acknowledging the insurmountable challenge posed by the Dagestani champion’s grappling prowess.

Della Maddalena, 28, entered the highly anticipated main event with significant momentum, fresh off capturing the vacant welterweight belt earlier in the year. His previous championship victory, a hard-fought unanimous decision over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 on May 4, 2024, had showcased his exceptional striking and resilience. In that bout, Della Maddalena successfully maintained the fight on the feet for the majority of the contest, nullifying Muhammad’s wrestling threats and engaging in a high-paced striking battle that ultimately went his way. This performance had instilled confidence in his ability to compete with the division’s elite, even against a grappler of Makhachev’s caliber.

However, the narrative of UFC 322 unfolded starkly differently. From the opening bell, Makhachev, widely regarded as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best, executed a dominant wrestling-centric strategy. He consistently closed the distance, secured takedowns, and maintained control on the ground, stifling Della Maddalena’s renowned striking offense. The Australian found himself spending extensive periods on his back, defending against guard passes and submissions rather than unleashing the potent combinations that had defined his rise through the welterweight ranks. The championship rounds, in particular, saw Della Maddalena’s frustration become increasingly evident, his expressions reflecting the futility of his efforts to escape Makhachev’s suffocating control.

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Usman had anticipated two distinct possibilities for the main event, acknowledging the stark stylistic contrast between the two champions. "I knew there was two directions that it was going to go," Usman stated. "I just didn’t think this fight was going to be a long back-and-forth fight like myself and [Colby Covington] 1. I just knew that wasn’t going to be the case for this." He elaborated on his pre-fight assessment: "I thought either JDM somehow really has closed those gaps from the holes that he has to where he’s able to step forward and start to do damage or Islam was going to do what I thought he was going to do. That’s get him down, and when you get some of these guys down, we’re able to float on these guys, we’re able to just kind of be a step ahead of them in them trying to maneuver and create a scramble to get back to their feet, and that’s what Islam did."

Makhachev’s execution of his game plan was near-flawless, leading to a dominant performance that left no doubt about his mastery of control. The official statistics confirmed Usman’s observations, revealing an overwhelming "nineteen minutes of control time" for Makhachev over the 25-minute duration of the bout. This level of sustained control is a rare feat in championship-level contests and underscores the Dagestani’s exceptional grappling pedigree. Usman drew a parallel to his own career, recalling a similar level of dominance in his fight against Joaquin Buckley. "The only other time I’ve seen that long right now in that welterweight division with these top guys, I would say my fight vs. [Joaquin] Buckley," Usman remarked, highlighting the effectiveness of Makhachev’s strategy in neutralizing a dangerous striker.

Usman further articulated that Makhachev’s performance serves as a blueprint for stifling the new generation of welterweight contenders who primarily rely on striking. He identified several emerging talents who share Della Maddalena’s profile as "tough, gritty, heavy, hard-hitting strikers" but whose grappling has yet to be truly tested at the highest level. "Basically, this is how you stifle some of these new guys. I feel like there’s a lot of—not a lot—but there’s a JDM, there’s a few JDMs in the welterweight division. Carlos Prates. [Michael] Morales, we haven’t seen these guys go down to the ground. There’s a few guys like that that are tough, gritty, heavy, hard-hitting strikers. But there is a way to potentially neutralize that striking and Islam did just that." Carlos Prates (19-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and Michael Morales (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) are both undefeated in the UFC, known for their aggressive striking and knockout power, making them prime examples of the type of fighter Makhachev so effectively neutralized.

While the consensus pointed to Makhachev’s absolute dominance, a discussion emerged on whether Della Maddalena was truly "broken" or simply outmaneuvered. Usman’s co-host, Henry Cejudo, a former two-division UFC champion, posited that Makhachev possessed the capability to finish Della Maddalena and that in a potential rematch, he would likely press for a stoppage. However, Usman maintained a nuanced view, acknowledging Della Maddalena’s inherent toughness and resilience.

"I give [Della Maddalena] credit," Usman asserted, pushing back on the notion of a complete mental collapse. "There’s a crop of guys now in this division that are just fearless, that don’t care, they’re willing to throw the kitchen sink and their dogs at you in order to potentially get you out of there with that one shot and JDM is one of those guys to where I think you can bend them, big time, I haven’t seen him break." Usman elaborated on his definition of "breaking" in the context of high-stakes mixed martial arts. "Because when they break, they make mistakes like turning, giving up their back so they can get out of the fight… So I don’t want to just shit on him and say, ‘Oh yeah, he broke.’" This distinction highlights Della Maddalena’s continued defensive efforts and refusal to quit, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

The loss to Makhachev, who boasts a professional record of 26 wins and 1 loss and has now successfully defended the welterweight title for the third time, represents a significant setback for Della Maddalena (17-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC). It underscores the critical importance of developing a well-rounded skillset, particularly defensive grappling, to compete at the very pinnacle of the sport. For Della Maddalena, who was previously on an impressive 17-fight winning streak, this defeat serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in a division populated by diverse and elite threats. His path back to title contention will likely involve addressing the vulnerabilities exposed by Makhachev’s dominant performance, ensuring he can counter the relentless pressure of the division’s top grapplers while continuing to refine his dangerous striking arsenal.