Jack Della Maddalena is aware of he has a troublesome activity forward of him, so why not decide the mind of a person who has shared the octagon with Islam Makhachev on two totally different events?
Della Maddalena lately captured the UFC welterweight title with a unanimous choice win in opposition to Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, and now is aware of he’ll defend his title for the primary time in opposition to the soon-to-be former light-weight champion later this 12 months. Present featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski confronted Makhachev twice — together with a call loss in MMA Combating’s 2023 Combat of the 12 months of their first assembly at UFC 284.
Volkanovski had extra success in opposition to Makhachev than most, which is why Della Maddalena was requested if he’ll decide the two-time 145-pound champion’s mind previous to his matchup with Makhachev.
“Yeah, 100%, I positively 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 believe, [it will] most likely be the primary cease to go to Woolongong, speak to Volk, see what he reckons.”
The UFC 315 primary occasion outcome was a heavy one primarily based on the place the promoton — and Makhachev — would go together with the UFC 317 primary occasion on June 28, and with each the welterweight and light-weight divisions. Had Muhammad received, Makhachev would’ve defended his light-weight title in opposition to 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 totally different weight lessons now that his pal and coaching accomplice is not champion at 170 kilos. In Della Maddalena’s eyes, he believes the matchups, for probably the most half, are related between Makhachev and Muhammad, with just a few caveats.
“I believe Islam is a greater model of Belal,” Della Maddalena stated. “The hanging on the toes, I believe 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 model, however yeah, he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1 so it’s a troublesome struggle.
“However I suppose we’ll 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 start out 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 accomplished.”
