Jack Della Maddalena, the newly crowned UFC welterweight champion, is preparing for a high-stakes title defense against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. His head coach, Ben Vickers, shared a bold prediction in an interview with Submission Radio, expressing confidence in Maddalena’s ability to secure a knockout victory.
Vickers analyzed Makhachev’s previous performances, focusing on his fight against Dustin Poirier.
“I watched a bit of footage of Makhachev, in particular the Poirier fight. I’ve never watched Makhachev before as a potential opponent, I’ve just enjoyed him fighting because he’s brilliant to watch. But, I think Jack will knock him out,” Vickers said.
Strategic Edge for Maddalena in Welterweight Showdown
Vickers elaborated on his reasoning, highlighting Makhachev’s limited experience in intense striking exchanges.
“Poirier only hit [Makhachev] once in the first round. I just feel like 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. Jack’s got size on him. Belal is a perfect warm-up fight. I feel very confident going into that fight,” he added.
Maddalena claimed the welterweight title at UFC 315 on May 10, 2025, defeating Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision in Montreal. His performance showcased sharp striking, landing 200 total shots and defending six of nine takedown attempts, earning judges’ scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46.
Jack Della’s Head Coach Studied Makhachev vs. Poirier on the Flight Back from Canada✈️ — Here’s What He Said:
“I watched a bit of footage of Makhachev, in particular the Poirier fight. I’ve never watched Makhachev before as a potential opponent — I’ve just enjoyed him fighting… pic.twitter.com/VZgNVFZLrK
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 14, 2025
His journey to the title included a knockout over Kevin Holland at UFC Vegas 67 in 2023, followed by victories against Gilbert Burns and Shavkat Rakhmonov. These wins highlighted his precise boxing and elusive footwork, establishing him as a top contender.
Makhachev, who vacated his lightweight title to pursue welterweight gold, dominated the 155-pound division with a 15-fight win streak, including four title defenses against Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski (twice), Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano. His only career loss was a 2015 knockout to Adriano Martins.
The matchup was confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White after Makhachev expressed his intent to challenge for the welterweight belt, stating, “Time to become a double champion,” on social media following UFC 315.
Vickers’ confidence stems from Maddalena’s size advantage and striking prowess, particularly after his dominant performance against Muhammad, a wrestler with a style similar to Makhachev’s grappling-heavy approach.
