Jack Della Maddalena believes Islam Makhachev won’t repeat Belal Muhammad’s mistakes.
Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is set to make the first defense of his UFC welterweight title when he faces former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) in the main event of UFC 322 on November 15.
The Australian captured the belt in his most recent outing, outstriking Belal Muhammad over five rounds at UFC 315 in May. Considering Muhammad had used his wrestling to dethrone Leon Edwards the year before, many fans were surprised when he chose to stand and trade with Della Maddalena for much of the fight.
Makhachev will be making his welterweight debut when they meet at Madison Square Garden, having vacated the lightweight title earlier this year. By the time he steps into the Octagon, the Dagestani will have been unbeaten for more than a decade — and Della Maddalena doesn’t expect him to make the same tactical errors Muhammad did.
"They're different fighters, different challenges," Della Maddalena told the media ahead of UFC Perth. "Obviously, there's some similarities within the grappling style, but I definitely look at Islam as a completely different challenge – more of a finishing ability, more powerful on the feet, so different challenge, and I'm excited for it.
"It's going to start on the feet, and we'll go from there. I think he's going to try and mix it up. I think he'll probably try getting on wrestling early, I'd imagine. Looking back at the Belal fight, he probably sees that Belal's mistake was maybe not getting on the wrestling early. Yeah, expecting the first round to be getting into some grappling exchanges."
Twelve of Della Maddalena’s eighteen wins as a professional have come by way of knockout, marking him out as one of the deadliest striker son the UFC roster.
"I'm going to go for it," Della Maddalena said. "Obviously, that would be the best-case scenario: Get the finish. I can see it happening. I can see blowing the roof off MSG, taking out the pound-for-pound No. 1 with no doubts. A finish would be the dream."
