Jack Della Maddalena isn’t shying away from the spotlight. As he prepares for his first title defense at UFC 322 in New York, the Australian champion has embraced one of the toughest challenges possible — facing Islam Makhachev, widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.
Makhachev, who has dominated the lightweight division with a 15-fight win streak, is now testing himself at 170 pounds for the first time. While some might hesitate to risk their title against such a high-caliber opponent, Della Maddalena sees it as the perfect opportunity to solidify his own legacy — and possibly humble a man moving up in search of new glory.
‘That Means I’ve Done My Job’
During an interview, Della Maddalena said he actually welcomes the idea of critics calling Makhachev a “true lightweight” after the fight — because to him, that would mean everything went according to plan.
“I’m sort of hoping for that narrative,” Della Maddalena told MMA Fighting. “That means I’ve done my job and put him back in his place. Honestly, that’s sort of the narrative I’m hoping that comes the day after the fight is that he’s just a lightweight, he would never do well in the welterweight division.”
He added with a grin that his goal is simple:
“That’s sort of what I’m hoping for. That’s it — sending him packing back to 155 pounds.”
Respect for the Challenge
When asked about Makhachev’s decision to move up without a prior fight at welterweight, Della Maddalena admitted that while the Russian hasn’t proven himself at 170 yet, his résumé earns him the right to try.
“It’s a hard one because obviously he hasn’t done anything in the welterweight division but I think his resume’s very respectable,” he said. “He’s done a pretty good job in that division clearing it out. It’s cool.”
He continued:
“Before a champion moves up, at least clear out the division. I feel like that’s what he has done so I feel like he is deserving of this spot. Deserving of having a crack at a big legacy fight. I think it’s a big challenge. Definitely the biggest challenge of my career.”
Taking on the Pound-for-Pound No. 1
Makhachev’s run has positioned him as the top-ranked fighter in the world, and Della Maddalena is fully aware of what a victory would mean. Defeating a dominant champion like Makhachev would not only strengthen his claim to the welterweight throne but also elevate his global standing in MMA.
“Pound-for-pound, the No. 1 guy,” Della Maddalena said. “He’s obviously been tossing up coming to welterweight for a long time. I’m pretty lucky that this is my first defense. I couldn’t ask for anything bigger, anything better than fighting the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in my first title defense in New York City.”
Fighting Styles and Strategy
Much of the conversation around this matchup centers on the contrast between Makhachev’s world-class wrestling and Della Maddalena’s elite striking. But the champion insists he’s more than just a puncher. His recent performances against Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad have shown improvements in grappling defense and composure on the ground.
“Nothing’s really changed [with my grappling],” he explained. “I’ve just been working at it day in and day out, trying to get better. Building confidence in the fights themselves. Taking the confidence from the Burns fight. But nothing’s really changed. Just trying to get better day-by-day on the grappling skills.”
Still, the Australian knows what an ideal outcome looks like:
“[But] a perfect fight for me would be just to keep him on the outside and ping him and get the finish. But definitely the competitor in me wants to test it and see how I can hang with someone of the credentials and the skills of Islam. But a perfect fight for me would be stay away from the wrestling, keep him on the feet and just outclass him on the feet.”
Underdog Mentality Fuels the Fire
Despite walking in as champion, Della Maddalena is well aware that most betting odds favor Makhachev. For him, that only adds fuel to his motivation.
“I definitely feel like I’ve got the underdog mentality this time around,” Della Maddalena said. “I feel like I’ve got everything to prove. But I like it that way. It gives me more motivation. A lot of drive to prove I’m the champion and then solidify my spot as the top guy.”
He finished with a reminder that being underestimated isn’t new — it’s something that drives him to perform beyond expectations.
“I feel like 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.”
UFC 322 won’t just be a clash of champions — it’s a test of pride, dominance, and discipline. For Della Maddalena, the mission goes beyond defending gold; it’s about proving that Makhachev’s strength has limits and that the lightweight king cannot conquer every division.
If the Australian succeeds, he won’t just remain welterweight champion — he’ll have earned a place in the global pound-for-pound conversation himself.
