Jack Della Maddalena has finally shed light on the reason behind his visibly disheartened expression during his bout against Islam Makhachev.
Last year, “JDM” secured the 170-pound championship by defeating Belal Muhammad, a training partner and friend of Makhachev, which prompted the Russian fighter to relinquish his lightweight title and ascend to a higher weight class.
Della Maddalena’s championship reign was short-lived, lasting only a few months before he was dethroned by Makhachev in the latter’s welterweight debut at UFC 322.
The Dagestani grappling specialist demonstrated overwhelming control and skill against “JDM,” accumulating an impressive 19 minutes and 10 seconds of control time, executing four successful takedowns, and landing a total of 140 strikes on his way to a unanimous decision victory.
In the crucial championship rounds, Della Maddalena’s dejected demeanor was highly noticeable. Commentators and fans speculated that he might have been injured, hindering his ability to defend takedowns and recover his footing. Even his coach, prior to the final round, urged “JDM” to ‘take that fu***ing sad look off his face’ if he wished to avoid losing the title and give his all in the remaining five minutes.
In a recent interview, Jack Della Maddalena acknowledged feeling that he underperformed at UFC 322 and was unable to execute his intended strategy, which resulted in his evident disappointment and contributed to him appearing “broken” in the later stages of the fight. He stated:
“It was just a bit of disappointment for not being able to do what I wanted to do, knowing I was having a poor performance. I look back on it and there’s things I should’ve been doing more of.”
Jack Della Maddalena is ready to “outclass” next opponent
Jack Della Maddalena is eager for a swift rematch with Islam Makhachev to reclaim the title he lost at UFC 322.
Currently, to secure another shot at the championship, “JDM” must overcome knockout artist Carlos Prates at UFC Perth on May 2. Della Maddalena expressed confidence, stating he possesses the necessary skills to “outclass” “The Nightmare.” He told Australian MMA:
“He’s [Carlos Prates] a fan favorite for good reason. He’s an exciting guy. Good striking battle against two of the top contenders. I feel like I’ve got the skillset to beat him. I feel like I can outclass him.”