Jack Della Maddalena is aware of he has a tricky job forward of him, so why not choose the mind of a person who has shared the octagon with Islam Makhachev on two completely different events?
Della Maddalena just lately captured the UFC welterweight title with a unanimous determination win towards Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, and now is aware of he’ll defend his title for the primary time towards the soon-to-be former light-weight champion later this yr. Present featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski confronted Makhachev twice — together with a choice loss in MMA Combating’s 2023 Combat of the Yr of their first assembly at UFC 284.
Volkanovski had extra success towards Makhachev than most, which is why Della Maddalena was requested if he’ll choose the two-time 145-pound champion’s mind previous to his matchup with Makhachev.
“Yeah, 100%, I undoubtedly plan to,” Della Maddalena informed The West Sport. “After the final two fights, I’ve spent a little bit of time in Woolongong. So yeah, I feel, [it will] in all probability be the primary cease to go to Woolongong, speak to Volk, see what he reckons.”
The UFC 315 predominant occasion consequence was a heavy one based mostly on the place the promoton — and Makhachev — would go together with the UFC 317 predominant occasion on June 28, and with each the welterweight and light-weight divisions. Had Muhammad gained, Makhachev would’ve defended his light-weight title towards Ilia Topuria, however now Topuria will battle Charles Oliviera for the vacant belt.
Makhachev now has a path to changing into a champ in two completely different weight lessons now that his pal and coaching accomplice is now not champion at 170 kilos. In Della Maddalena’s eyes, he believes the matchups, for essentially the most half, are related between Makhachev and Muhammad, with a couple of caveats.
“I feel Islam is a greater model of Belal,” Della Maddalena stated. “The placing on the toes, I feel it’s simpler than Belal as a result of he’s extra… he’ll keep in a single stance. He’s extra [of a] conventional type, however yeah, he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1 so it’s a tricky combat.
“However I assume we are going to simply watch all these fights once more, make a strong sport plan, then simply begin working at it. From just about now, I’m going to begin engaged on methods to beat him, methods to get again to my toes, stuffing the takedown, however I’m fairly assured I can get this one performed.”
