The silence has been broken. Jack Della Maddalena, in his first public statement since UFC 322, is addressing the sting of defeat – a loss that saw him relinquish his welterweight title to Islam Makhachev. But this isn’t a lament; it’s a declaration of intent.
According to Damon Martin, a veteran combat sports journalist with MMA Fighting since 2003, Della Maddalena isn’t wallowing. Instead, he’s promising a comeback, a resurgence fueled by the lessons learned in the Octagon against one of the sport’s elite competitors.
“Thanks to those always supporting,” Della Maddalena posted on Instagram. “Islam is one of the greats and deserved to win. I will learn and move forward.” This message, while simple, speaks volumes about Della Maddalena’s character and his commitment to growth.
The UFC 322 main event in New York City was undoubtedly dominated by Makhachev. The Dagestani fighter secured four takedowns and controlled Della Maddalena for over 19 minutes, showcasing his wrestling prowess and ultimately joining the ranks of UFC legends who have held titles in multiple weight classes. Makhachev’s strategy was clear: ground and pound, wearing down the Australian striker with relentless pressure.
While Della Maddalena displayed impressive defensive grappling, preventing Makhachev from securing a submission, he struggled to mount any significant offense of his own. And this is the part most people miss…it wasn’t just about Makhachev’s dominance; it was also about Della Maddalena’s inability to implement his own game plan. He landed a mere 18 significant strikes over the course of five rounds, a stark contrast to the 178 he landed against Belal Muhammad to win the title just months prior.
But here’s where it gets controversial… Some argue that Della Maddalena’s previous victory over Muhammad might have been a fluke, or that Muhammad wasn’t at his best. Others believe that Makhachev is simply on another level, a stylistic nightmare for almost any welterweight. What do you think?
Losing the title is a setback, no doubt. But Della Maddalena is no stranger to adversity. In fact, he started his professional career with back-to-back losses. Many fighters would have crumbled under that pressure, but Della Maddalena refused to give up. He embarked on an incredible run, racking up 18 consecutive victories, including eight straight in the UFC.
“I lost my first fight and then went into another fight and had lost two fights,” Della Maddalena recalled in a 2022 interview with MMA Fighting. “My coach wasn’t there the second time around but we spoke on the phone, we thought I was better than being an 0-2 fighter and we made that pact to get to 10-2.”
He continued: “It seemed like a massive goal at that stage to get 10 wins in a row, but we just slowly worked at it and made it happen.” This quote perfectly encapsulates Della Maddalena’s mindset: a relentless work ethic combined with unwavering belief in his potential.
Now, Della Maddalena faces the challenge of rebuilding, of starting a new win streak after the loss to Makhachev. But given his history, his resilience, and his unwavering commitment to improvement, few would bet against him. The question is, what adjustments will he make to his training and strategy? Will he focus more on wrestling defense? Will he look to add new dimensions to his striking game? Only time will tell. What do you think is the most important thing for him to work on? Let us know in the comments below!