Ali Akbar Rosady
New York City is set to host a pivotal moment in mixed martial arts history as welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena prepares to defend his title against lightweight king Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 322. Despite holding the welterweight gold, Della Maddalena enters Saturday’s pay-per-view as a significant underdog, facing the record-setting lightweight champion and current pound-for-pound king who aims to claim a second divisional crown and solidify his place in the sport’s all-time greatest conversation.
Makhachev’s ascent to prominence and his pursuit of dual-division glory form the central narrative surrounding UFC 322. Having surpassed legendary figures such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, and Benson Henderson in lightweight title defenses before vacating his belt, Makhachev’s legacy is already firmly established. His strategic move up to welterweight represents a calculated risk, offering him a rare opportunity to join an elite group of two-division champions. This ambition, however, has overshadowed the reigning welterweight champion, Della Maddalena, who finds himself in the unfamiliar position of the "B-side" in a title defense.
"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 perception of Della Maddalena as an underdog stems from several factors. While he secured a convincing victory over Belal Muhammad to claim the welterweight strap, some observers have understated the significance of this win, potentially due to Muhammad’s grinding style and polarizing public image. In stark contrast, Makhachev is universally revered for his dominant performances and suffocating grappling, making him a formidable challenge for any opponent, particularly strikers.
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Makhachev’s signature smothering grappling style, a hallmark of fighters from the Dagestani region, has proven to be a nightmare for elite strikers throughout his career. While Della Maddalena will benefit from Makhachev moving up 15 pounds to welterweight, the champion himself acknowledges that he may not hold a substantial size advantage. The primary concern for Della Maddalena is not raw power, but Makhachev’s unparalleled ability to control opponents on the mat. The most recent title defenses of both fighters offer insights into the challenges ahead. Makhachev dispatched elite striker Dustin Poirier, while Della Maddalena outclassed the tenacious wrestler Belal Muhammad.
Dustin Poirier, who recently faced Makhachev, offered his perspective on the welterweight title bout. "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." This analysis highlights the critical importance of Della Maddalena’s ability to thwart takedown attempts and, if taken down, to quickly return to his feet.
A crucial element in Della Maddalena’s preparation for Makhachev’s grappling onslaught is the involvement of Craig Jones, a two-time ADCC silver medalist and one of the most innovative minds in modern Jiu-Jitsu. Jones’s influence has been actively shaping Della Maddalena’s grappling evolution, potentially redefining how the welterweight champion handles Makhachev’s relentless pressure. This strategic partnership has led several prominent figures in MMA to pick Della Maddalena for the upset. American Top Team coach Din Thomas and welterweight contender Sean Brady are among those who believe the champion can defeat Makhachev.
"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 at UFC 315, noting that while Della Maddalena stuffed six of Muhammad’s nine takedown attempts, the true key was Muhammad’s inability to keep him grounded. Thomas attributes this growing comfort and proficiency in transitional grappling to Jones’s imprint on Della Maddalena’s game.
"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 continued. "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." This assessment suggests a potential war of attrition, with Della Maddalena’s striking becoming a deciding factor in the later rounds.
Della Maddalena’s longtime coach, Ben Vickers, has expressed a desire to unleash the same brutality Della Maddalena displayed against Muhammad, where he landed 200 strikes in 25 minutes, against Makhachev. Vickers believes that sustained offensive pressure will expose a vulnerability in Makhachev that few opponents have been able to exploit. "I think Jack will knock him out…" Vickers told 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." This bold prediction is not entirely without precedent, as Poirier demonstrated that Makhachev can be tested on the feet. Della Maddalena, a sharper and fresher striker, could find similar or even greater success in striking exchanges.
The oddsmakers have listed Makhachev as nearly a three-to-one favorite, reflecting a widespread belief that this fight will serve as his coronation in a second division. This contrasts sharply with a hypothetical fight against lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, which is currently considered a pick’em by many. However, those closest to the challenger do not share this certainty.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s mentor and former coach, offered a surprising assessment of Della Maddalena’s threat. "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."
Makhachev’s longtime coach, Javier Mendez, has prepared meticulously, acknowledging the unique challenge Della Maddalena presents. Mendez admitted to having watched more tape on Della Maddalena than any previous opponent, a rare statement from one of MMA’s most seasoned 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 shares his team’s respect for the upcoming challenge. He has tailored his training camp to counter Della Maddalena’s strengths, splitting time between Russia, Dubai, and New Jersey to secure the optimal sparring partners and body types. "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."
The stage is set for a high-stakes encounter at UFC 322, with Della Maddalena aiming to defend his title and derail Makhachev’s historic quest, while Makhachev seeks to etch his name further into the annals of UFC greatness.
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