Ali Akbar Rosady
New York City, NY – As UFC 322 prepares to unfold at Madison Square Garden this Saturday, welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena finds himself in an unusual position: defending his title as the perceived underdog against lightweight king Islam Makhachev. The highly anticipated main event, featuring a champion versus champion clash, presents a significant challenge for Della Maddalena, who holds the 170-pound strap but is widely viewed as the B-side in the promotional narrative. Makhachev, boasting a professional record of 26-1, enters the contest as a substantial favorite, positioning Della Maddalena (17-2) in a role he openly embraces as he seeks to solidify his standing at the pinnacle of the welterweight division.
The overarching storyline surrounding UFC 322 centers on Islam Makhachev’s ambitious quest for a second divisional championship. The record-setting lightweight champion, currently recognized as the sport’s pound-for-pound king, aims to ascend to welterweight and, with a victory, etch his name into the coveted "greatest of all time" conversation. Makhachev’s dominance at lightweight has been absolute, marked by a historic run of consecutive title defenses that surpassed the benchmarks set by legends such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, and Benson Henderson before he ultimately vacated the belt to pursue this new challenge. His recent defenses include a dominant submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 and two decisive wins against former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, reinforcing his status as one of the most formidable competitors in mixed martial arts.
However, the immense spotlight on Makhachev’s legacy often overshadows the accomplishments and potential of the reigning welterweight champion. Della Maddalena, who secured the welterweight title with a convincing performance against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, acknowledges the prevailing sentiment. "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 stems, in part, from his relatively brief tenure as welterweight champion. While his victory over Belal Muhammad, a top-ranked contender known for his relentless pressure and durable style, was decisive, some observers have understated its significance. Muhammad, despite his consistent winning record and high ranking, is often characterized by a grinding approach that some fans find less exciting, leading to a tendency to overlook the caliber of his talent. In stark contrast, Makhachev’s recent run of finishes and tactical masterclasses has cemented his reputation as an almost invincible force.
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Makhachev’s fighting style, deeply rooted in the Dagestani tradition of smothering grappling and relentless pressure, presents a uniquely challenging matchup for any striker. His ability to control opponents on the mat, neutralize offensive threats, and transition to submissions or ground-and-pound has proven to be a nightmare for even elite-level stand-up fighters. While Della Maddalena is a natural welterweight, the expectation is that he will not hold a significant size advantage over Makhachev, despite the lightweight champion’s 15-pound ascent. The challenge for Della Maddalena, therefore, lies not primarily in absorbing power, but in preventing and escaping Makhachev’s control.
A comparative analysis of their most recent title defenses offers valuable insights. Makhachev secured a fifth-round submission over elite striker Dustin Poirier, demonstrating his ability to weather early striking exchanges and ultimately impose his will. Della Maddalena, on the other hand, outclassed the relentless wrestler Belal Muhammad over five rounds, displaying improved takedown defense and an ability to inflict damage while largely staying off his back. Dustin Poirier, reflecting on his own experience against Makhachev, sees a clear path to victory 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."
A significant factor in Della Maddalena’s potential success against Makhachev’s grappling is the influence of Craig Jones, a two-time ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) silver medalist and one of modern Jiu-Jitsu’s most innovative minds. Jones has been actively involved in shaping Della Maddalena’s grappling evolution, and his unique approach to submission grappling and positional control could be pivotal in neutralizing Makhachev’s vaunted pressure. This strategic addition to Della Maddalena’s camp has not gone unnoticed by experts within the sport. American Top Team coach Din Thomas and fellow welterweight contender Sean Brady have both expressed confidence in the champion’s ability to upset Makhachev, largely crediting Jones’s impact.
"He’s a breath of fresh air, and I’m with Brady on this one. I’m picking him to beat Islam," Thomas told 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 Della Maddalena’s performance against Muhammad, where he successfully stuffed six of nine takedown attempts. More critically, Muhammad struggled to keep Della Maddalena grounded even when he secured a takedown. Thomas attributes this evolution to Jones’s imprint, highlighting Della Maddalena’s growing comfort and effectiveness in transitional grappling and scrambles. "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 is undeniable. In his title defense against Muhammad, he landed an impressive 200 strikes over 25 minutes, consistently bloodying his opponent. His longtime coach, Ben Vickers, believes that this sustained pressure and striking accuracy will be key against Makhachev. Vickers suggests that a relentless offensive output could expose a weakness Makhachev has rarely encountered. "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 Makhachev’s only professional loss came via TKO to Adriano Martins early in his career in 2015, Vickers’ comment underscores the belief that Makhachev has rarely faced sustained, high-level striking pressure from a welterweight-sized opponent. Poirier’s ability to trouble Makhachev on the feet for periods of their contest provides a precedent, suggesting that Della Maddalena, a sharper and fresher striker at his natural weight class, could find similar or even greater success in standing exchanges.
Despite the confidence emanating from Della Maddalena’s camp, oddsmakers list Makhachev as nearly a three-to-one favorite. This contrasts sharply with a hypothetical fight between Makhachev and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, which is often considered a pick’em. The prevailing sentiment among many fans and bettors is that UFC 322 will serve as Makhachev’s coronation in a second division. However, those intimately familiar with the challenger, and even Makhachev’s inner circle, do not share this certainty.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s mentor and former coach, offered a candid assessment, stating, "I think Maddalena is the toughest opponent in Islam’s career. That’s my opinion, not Charles [Oliveira], no one else. None of those other fighters. Not even Ilia, if that fight were to happen." Nurmagomedov elaborated on his rationale, emphasizing Della Maddalena’s physical attributes: "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."
Makhachev’s longtime coach, Javier Mendez of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), renowned for developing champions like Nurmagomedov, Cain Velasquez, and Daniel Cormier, has prepared accordingly. Mendez admitted to an unprecedented level of study for this particular opponent. "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 respect for the formidable challenge ahead. He has meticulously crafted his training camp around Della Maddalena’s specific strengths, dividing his time between Russia, Dubai, and New Jersey to secure optimal sparring partners and body types that emulate the welterweight champion. "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 an opportunity to cement his legacy as an all-time great by conquering a second division. For Jack Della Maddalena, it is a chance to defy expectations, prove his championship caliber, and establish himself as an undisputed force in the welterweight division by defeating one of the most dominant fighters in the sport’s history. The clash of styles, combined with the high stakes and the mutual respect between the camps, sets the stage for a compelling main event in New York City.
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