Jack Della Maddalena understands the common view of his upcoming fight against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 as a straightforward striker-versus-grappler scenario, but he`s quick to dismiss this simple label.
He feels reducing the welterweight title fight to such basic terms undervalues the capabilities of both athletes. Although Della Maddalena has frequently heard about Muhammad’s wrestling prowess and stamina leading up to the bout, he points out that Muhammad often boasts about his own boxing skills, even joking about having “Canelo hands” for Saturday`s title defense.
For his part, Della Maddalena doesn`t deny that Muhammad possesses the necessary skills to win, but the Australian power striker believes he simply performs all aspects of the sport slightly better.
“He’s good at winning,” Della Maddalena said about Muhammad. “So he’ll revert back to just trying to win. Obviously, I don’t underestimate his striking, but I think I can get him on the feet and on the ground. I think I’m a better MMA fighter than him.”
“I wouldn’t want to have a boxing match with him because I like MMA. I like the rule set. I like kicking. Kicking him and elbow him.”
While Della Maddalena has built his reputation on delivering devastatingly powerful strikes, he acknowledges that Muhammad is quite capable when standing and exchanging blows.
Just three fights ago, Muhammad delivered a powerful performance to knock out Sean Brady and he has continued to improve since then. Because of this, Della Maddalena isn`t dismissing Muhammad as ineffective on the feet, though he still doubts the reigning UFC welterweight champion will choose to spend extensive time standing during the actual fight.
“I think his striking, it’s fast,” Della Maddalena said. “He has a fast, awkward striking style. So it’s effective. Obviously, he’s not a very damaging guy just because he doesn’t put all his weight behind his shots. It seems like he just snaps them out there fast. He can touch you and then get on your hips so he’s a well-rounded guy.”
“Obviously the fight starts on the feet so I think he’ll come out and dip his toes a little bit. If he’s feeling comfortable, and his fast little flicking hands he thinks are landing, he might stay on the feet a little bit. When he starts feeling uncomfortable, I think that’s when you see him start to revert back to his bread and butter.”
Muhammad`s “bread and butter” is clearly his grappling game, which, combined with his ability to maintain a relentless pace for 25 minutes, has contributed to his undefeated streak over the past six years.
Della Maddalena absolutely respects both of these strengths. He knows questions about facing another grappling-focused opponent will arise frequently, especially after dealing with a similar strategy in his recent win over Gilbert Burns. However, despite Burns` early grappling success, the fight concluded with Burns on the ground, knocked out in the third round after Della Maddalena landed a devastating blow.
“I think I can stop the takedown,” Della Maddalena said. “I’m comfortable on my back, and I think sometimes that’s not good for [MMA], it sometimes works to my detriment. Stop the takedown is what I need to do. I think that makes the fight easier for me.”
“If it hits the [ground], I’ve got ways of getting up. I’ll be able to attack him off my back but stopping the takedown will be the best route to victory. It will save me energy, and I can use that energy to bust him up.”
Despite his impressive run through the division and holding the champion title for the past ten months, Muhammad has many critics, and numerous fighters are quick to predict his eventual downfall.
Through all the criticism, Muhammad consistently finds a way to win, and Della Maddalena certainly respects this persistent ability.
Much like his opponent, Della Maddalena has built his career through sheer hard work and rarely speaks negatively about anyone, so this attitude is expected to continue before Saturday`s fight.
While perhaps not “killing him with kindness,” Della Maddalena sees no need to engage in trash talk merely to provoke Muhammad. Instead, he prefers to let his performance in the cage speak for itself, and taking Muhammad’s title would make a significant statement.
“I respect the resume for sure,” Della Maddalena said. “He has had a very good career. Obviously a hard working guy, he’s put a lot of wins together, which isn’t easy, especially at this sort of level of fighters he’s fighting. I respect it.”
“No bad blood. I’m coming with vicious intentions. That’s the fight game.”
