Ali Akbar Rosady
New York City prepares for a monumental clash at UFC 322, as reigning welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena steps into the octagon against lightweight kingpin and pound-for-pound elite, Islam Makhachev. The event, slated for Saturday’s pay-per-view main event, pits two of the sport’s most formidable talents against each other in a bout that carries significant implications for both divisions and the broader landscape of mixed martial arts history. Despite holding the welterweight title, Della Maddalena finds himself in the unfamiliar position of the ‘B-side’ and a significant underdog against Makhachev, who enters as the favorite, aiming to capture a second divisional crown and cement his place in the all-time ‘Greatest Of All Time’ conversation.
Makhachev’s pursuit of a second championship belt is the dominant narrative heading into UFC 322. The Dagestani phenom, who recently surpassed the record for lightweight title defenses previously held by legends such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, and Benson Henderson, vacated his lightweight strap to move up in weight. This audacious bid to become a two-division champion places him among an elite few in UFC history, including Randy Couture, B.J. Penn, Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo, and Conor McGregor. Such an achievement would undoubtedly elevate Makhachev’s standing, solidifying his claim as one of the sport’s truly generational talents.
However, the shadow cast by Makhachev’s ambition has, for some, obscured the formidable presence of the welterweight champion himself. Della Maddalena, a sharp and dangerous striker with a professional record of 17 wins and 2 losses, has rapidly ascended the ranks since his UFC debut in 2022, securing seven consecutive victories, five of them finishes. His most recent triumph, a convincing decision victory over top contender Belal Muhammad, showcased his evolving skillset and mental fortitude. Despite this, the perception persists that Della Maddalena is "untested" at the absolute apex of the welterweight division, a sentiment he acknowledges and embraces.
"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."
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The perceived lack of respect for Della Maddalena, a champion with a proven track record of violent finishes and technical striking, stems partly from the contrasting reputations of his recent opponents versus Makhachev’s decorated resume. While Della Maddalena’s win over Belal Muhammad was definitive, Muhammad’s grinding style and polarizing public persona often overshadow his legitimate talent and consistent high-level performances. By contrast, Makhachev has consistently dominated elite competition, dismantling top-ranked contenders with a suffocating blend of wrestling, sambo, and increasingly refined striking.
Makhachev’s signature smothering grappling style, a hallmark of fighters from the Dagestani region, has historically proven a nightmare matchup for pure strikers. His ability to secure takedowns, maintain dominant control, and inflict damage or pursue submissions on the ground has been nearly unparalleled in the lightweight division. The transition to welterweight, a 15-pound jump, raises questions about how this control-oriented style will translate against larger, stronger opponents. Della Maddalena, while not significantly larger, possesses a natural welterweight frame that could test Makhachev’s ability to impose his will physically. As Della Maddalena himself noted, the challenge lies not necessarily in raw power, but in resisting Makhachev’s relentless control.
Insights from their most recent title defenses offer a glimpse into the potential dynamics of this clash. Makhachev’s last outing saw him finish elite striker Dustin Poirier, demonstrating his evolving striking and submission prowess. Della Maddalena, meanwhile, outclassed the relentless wrestler Belal Muhammad, showcasing improved takedown defense and an ability to recover quickly from compromised positions. Poirier, having recently faced 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 perceived grappling evolution is his collaboration with Craig Jones, a two-time ADCC silver medalist and one of modern Jiu-Jitsu’s most innovative minds. Jones’s influence on Della Maddalena’s ground game could be a pivotal element in neutralizing Makhachev’s formidable pressure. This collaboration has garnered attention from respected figures in the sport, with American Top Team coach Din Thomas and welterweight contender Sean Brady publicly picking Della Maddalena to upset 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, where the champion stuffed six of Muhammad’s nine takedown attempts and, crucially, proved exceptionally difficult to keep grounded. This ability to scramble and return to his feet, a clear departure from earlier fights, is believed by many to be Jones’s imprint on Della Maddalena’s grappling. Thomas anticipates that Della Maddalena will be "very difficult to take down and hold down" against Makhachev. On the striking front, Thomas predicts a precise offensive from Della Maddalena, even suggesting he might lose the initial rounds before mounting a strong comeback later in the fight.
Della Maddalena’s striking output against Muhammad was notably high, landing over 200 significant strikes over 25 minutes, demonstrating his conditioning and relentless pace. His longtime coach, Ben Vickers, believes this sustained pressure will be key to unlocking a weakness in Makhachev that few have managed to expose. Vickers has made a bold prediction for the fight.
"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 perspective gains some credence from Makhachev’s previous encounter with Dustin Poirier, where Poirier managed to trouble the Dagestani champion on the feet, landing some significant shots before ultimately succumbing to a D’Arce choke. If Poirier, in the twilight of his career, could find openings, Della Maddalena, a younger, sharper, and arguably more powerful striker, could replicate or even amplify that success.
Despite the confidence emanating from Della Maddalena’s camp, oddsmakers have listed Makhachev as a nearly three-to-one favorite, reflecting a widespread belief that this fight is Makhachev’s coronation in a second division. This contrasts sharply with a hypothetical matchup between Della Maddalena and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, which is currently considered a pick’em, highlighting the unique challenge Makhachev represents.
However, not everyone shares the oddsmakers’ certainty. Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s mentor and close friend, 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."
This high praise from Nurmagomedov underscores the genuine respect Della Maddalena commands within the elite echelons of MMA. Makhachev’s longtime coach, Javier Mendez, further emphasized this sentiment, admitting he has watched more tape on Della Maddalena than any previous 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 has echoed his team’s respect for the formidable challenge ahead. His training camp for UFC 322 has been meticulously structured around Della Maddalena’s strengths, with Makhachev splitting time between Russia, Dubai, and New Jersey to find the ideal sparring partners and body types to simulate his opponent’s attributes.
"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 promises to be a pivotal event, with Jack Della Maddalena defending his welterweight title against the formidable Islam Makhachev. The outcome will not only determine the future of the welterweight division but will also significantly impact Makhachev’s historical legacy as he chases dual-division glory. The fight presents a classic striker-versus-grappler dynamic, with the added intrigue of Della Maddalena’s evolving ground game and Makhachev’s transition to a new weight class.
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