Jack Della Maddalena doesn’t thoughts being the underdog.
After delivering a dominant performance in opposition to Belal Muhammad to assert the welterweight world title in Could, ‘JDM’ will put his gold on the road in opposition to former 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev within the UFC 322 headliner at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Regardless of strolling into the bout because the defending titleholder, Della Maddalena is a sizeable underdog, with Makhachev trending as a close to 3-to-1 favourite to change into the UFC’s subsequent two-division king.
“I really feel just like the fighters all the time are inclined to lean in the direction of the champion,” Della Maddalena mentioned throughout Wednesday’s UFC 322 media day when requested about going into her first title protection because the underdog. “So, not likely paying an excessive amount of consideration. … I nonetheless really feel like I’m the underdog. I nonetheless have that underdog mentality. I really feel like I’ve acquired every little thing to show. So, not a lot has modified. I benefit from the underdog function.”
‘JDM’ goes into Saturday’s scrap using an 18-fight win streak courting all the way in which again to 2016. Equally, Islam Makhachev is sitting on 15 straight wins, together with highlight-reel performances in opposition to Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano in light-weight title tilts.
Now, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ seems to etch his name in the history books by turning into a two-division world champion.
Issues acquired a little bit intense between Makhacheva nd Della Maddalena on Thursday throughout their press convention face-off. After the 2 refused to interrupt eye contact, Dana White was pressured to step in and separate the 2 fighters earlier than issues escalated past a fervid staring contest.
