Jack Della Maddalena is definitely embracing a possible criticism a couple of win at UFC 322 that Islam Makhachev raised as a priority when he was being requested to defend his title in opposition to Ilia Topuria.
In his first title protection as welterweight champion, Della Maddalena welcomes Makhachev to the division as he takes a stab at 170 kilos for the primary time in his profession. When Makhachev was the reigning king at light-weight, he questioned what a doable struggle in opposition to Topuria would do for his legacy as a result of he believed a win would successfully get discounted as him beating up a smaller fighter.
Makhachev already held two wins over former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, and he stored listening to that his title defenses have been coming in opposition to opponents finest suited to compete at 145 kilos. Whereas that prevented Makhachev from exhibiting a lot curiosity in going through Topuria in a title protection, Della Maddalena welcomes headlines on Sunday saying that he simply beatdown a legit light-weight.
“I’m kind of hoping for that narrative,” Della Maddalena informed MMA Preventing. “Which means I’ve executed my job and put him again in his place. Truthfully, that’s kind of the narrative I’m hoping that comes the day after the struggle is that he’s only a light-weight, he would by no means do nicely within the welterweight division.
“That’s kind of what I’m hoping for. That’s it [sending him packing back to 155 pounds].”
Again when he was light-weight champion, Makhachev particularly requested for Topuria to get at the very least one significant win at 155 kilos earlier than they’d probably conflict.
Della Maddalena might make the identical argument contemplating Makhachev has by no means competed at welterweight, however he believes the Russian mauler has executed sufficient to earn this chance simply primarily based on his total resume.
“It’s a tough one as a result of clearly he hasn’t executed something within the welterweight division however I believe his resume’s very respectable,” Della Maddalena mentioned about Makhachev. “He’s executed a fairly good job in that division clearing it out. It’s cool.
“Earlier than a champion strikes up, at the very least filter out the division. I really feel like that’s what he has executed so I really feel like he’s deserving of this spot. Deserving of getting a crack at a giant legacy struggle. I believe it’s a giant problem. Positively the most important problem of my profession.”
As a lot as measurement issues when these conversations occur about fighters trying to turn into two-division champions, Della Maddalena is trying a little bit deeper in relation to the accolades he’ll acquire with a win at UFC 322.
Makhachev is presently driving a exceptional 15-fight win streak and he’s been ranked close to the highest of the pound-for-pound rankings for a number of years now. Whereas he understands he nonetheless has work to do to earn the identical sorts of concerns, Della Maddalena is aware of beating any individual like Makhachev proper now is a large addition to the legacy he’s creating at welterweight.
“Pound-for-pound, the No. 1 man,” Della Maddalena mentioned. “He’s clearly been tossing up coming to welterweight for a very long time. I’m fairly fortunate that that is my first protection. I couldn’t ask for something greater, something higher than combating the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in my first title protection in New York Metropolis.”
Relating to the matchup itself, Della Maddalena has heard over and over that the struggle actually comes right down to his placing going in opposition to Makhachev’s grappling.
On paper that’s a really simplistic approach to take a look at issues however Della Maddalena refuses to simply outline himself as solely a striker. He’s pulled off submission wins within the UFC however extra importantly the 29-year-old Australian has proven simply how a lot he’s improved his grappling after countering Gilbert Burns and scoring a third-round knockout of their struggle whereas additionally largely shutting down Belal Muhammad’s wrestling when he turned champion again in Could.
That mentioned, Della Maddalena acknowledges that the most important hole in expertise in relation to this upcoming struggle is shutting down Makhachev’s grappling after which knocking him out on the ft.
“Nothing’s actually modified [with my grappling],” Della Maddalena mentioned. “I’ve simply been working at it day in and time out, making an attempt to get higher. Constructing confidence within the fights themselves. Taking the boldness from the Burns struggle. However nothing’s actually modified. Simply making an attempt to get higher day-by-day on the grappling expertise.
“[But] an ideal struggle for me could be simply to maintain him on the surface and ping him and get the end. However undoubtedly the competitor in me needs to check it and see how I can cling with somebody of the credentials and the talents of Islam. However an ideal struggle for me could be keep away from the wrestling, maintain him on the ft and simply outclass him on the ft.”
Regardless of strolling into Madison Sq. Backyard as champion, Della Maddalena isn’t shy about Makhachev’s standing as the favourite within the struggle. As a result of Makhachev has been so dominant for thus lengthy, it’s robust to argue in opposition to the concept that he’s destined to turn into champion on Saturday evening.
After all, Della Maddalena has been counted out earlier than and he’ll certainly be counted out once more in order that’s nothing new to him. However successful in opposition to unimaginable odds is certainly one of his favourite issues to do — and Della Maddelana can’t wait to see what everybody says after he wins once more.
“I undoubtedly really feel like I’ve acquired the underdog mentality this time round,” Della Maddalena mentioned. “I really feel like I’ve acquired every little thing to show. However I prefer it that approach. It provides me extra motivation. A number of drive to show I’m the champion after which solidify my spot as the highest man.
“I really feel like I’m undoubtedly the underdog. I really feel like a little bit bit I’m being written off. Come struggle evening, and after the struggle, I believe there’s going to be quite a lot of completely different opinions on it.”
