In preparation for his upcoming title defense against Islam Makhachev, Jack Maddalena plans to enlist the help of Alexander Volkanovski.
Jack Della Maddalena stunned fans at UFC 316 with his impressive performance against Belal Muhammad. The fighter came in guns blazing and successfully defeated Muhammad to become the new welterweight champion. In doing so, Maddalena joined the short list of Australian UFC champs—also on this list is Alexander Volkanovski. Less than a month after his victory, Maddalena looks ahead to a potential clash with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The Dagestani recently vacated the lightweight division to move up to welterweight and plans to become a two-division champion.
Undeniably, a bout with Makhachev presents a tough challenge, but Maddalena stands prepared. The champ revealed he is ready to use every weapon in his arsenal—including picking the mind of Alexander Volkanovski, who has fought Makhachev twice.
“Yeah, 100 percent, I definitely plan to,” Della Maddalena told The West Sport. “After the last two fights, I’ve spent a bit of time in Woolongong. So yeah, I think [it will] probably be the first stop—to go to Woolongong, talk to Volk, see what he reckons.”
“I think Islam is a better version of Belal,” Della Maddalena said. “The striking on the feet, I think it’s easier than Belal because he’s more… he’ll stay in one stance. He’s more of a traditional style, but yeah, he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1, so it’s a tough fight.
“But I guess we’ll just watch all these fights again, make a solid game plan, then just start working at it. From pretty much now, I’m going to start working on ways to beat him, ways to get back to my feet, stuffing the takedown—but I’m pretty confident I can get this one done.”
Maddalena believes Makhachev is a better version of Muhammad and feels ready for any surprises the fighter may throw at him.
