Jack Della Maddalena’s ascent from Perth hopeful to UFC welterweight champion culminates in a marquee title protection in opposition to former light-weight ruler Islam Makhachev at UFC 322. Head coach Ben Vickers outlined the strategic blueprint in a current Submission Radio interview, detailing how his fighter’s measurement, energy and championship expertise will form the competition at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Jack Della Maddalena’s technique in opposition to Islam Makhachev
Vickers started by acknowledging the magnitude of headlining the fabled New York enviornment. “Clearly, Perth is the place we’re from and the place we’d like to battle and Jack would like to principal occasion a card in his hometown. I feel it’s everybody’s dream to do such a factor, however the subsequent neatest thing has bought to be MSG. You understand, the mecca of battle sports activities, the mecca of venues. It’s a bucket record. It’s superior to be headlining an occasion at MSG. It’s going to be superior for Jack to change into pound-for-pound primary on this planet at MSG.”
Turning to the stylistic conflict, Vickers stressed that Islam’s workforce respects Jack Della Maddalena’s toughness. “There’s large respect coming from Islam’s workforce going into this one they usually’re acknowledging JDM is a tough battle. JDM is harder than what some folks could understand. The respect is mutual and Jack’s all the time requested me for the hardest fights he can presumably have. He fights higher in more durable fights.” That hardness, Vickers argued, performs to Della Maddalena’s favor when matched in opposition to Makhachev’s grappling pedigree and composure.
Though Vickers praised Makhachev’s all-around skill, he recognized alternatives the place Jack can acquire an edge. “The respect is mutual…however I do see issues there that we’re engaged on, that we’re making an attempt to capitalize upon. Though he’s an incredible fighter, I feel Jack’s higher.”
Central to that perception is the scale differential: Jack will meet Islam because the bigger man with larger energy on the ft, whereas Islam adapts to welterweight for the primary time. “He’s an enormous dude. He’s an excellent fighter. Jack’s greater. Jack’s in all probability stronger, has bought extra energy on the ft. Nevertheless it’s a unique battle for Islam. It’s his first time in a really aggressive matchup at welterweight, and it’s completely different—you already know, he’s been preventing at light-weight for a decade. To then transfer up a weight class, it’s completely different, and I don’t know the way that’s going to have an effect on his gasoline tank, his skill to maneuver as effectively.”
UFC 322
Vickers expects Makhachev to make use of measured takedown makes an attempt somewhat than reckless aggression, drawing on steering from former teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov in his nook. Ought to Makhachev succeed, Vickers insists Jack’s wrestling protection stays robust. Conversely, extended hanging exchanges play immediately into Della Maddalena’s fingers – he can drain Islam’s unfamiliar gasoline tank and land fight-ending photographs.
The gameplan facilities on two pillars. First, push a excessive tempo in stand-up to check Islam’s resistance to sustained energy strikes. Jack’s efficiency in opposition to Belal Muhammad demonstrated each his cardio and his capability to punish disciplined wrestlers over 5 rounds. Second, keep scrambly protection to thwart takedown entry or rapidly return to vertical if taken down. Above all, seize openings to land the clear, heavy shot that has completed many opponents all through Jack’s run.
