Following his recent victory over a highly-ranked fighter, Jack Della Maddalena`s coach is now expressing confidence that his fighter can secure a **knockout** win against the man currently sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings.
Fresh off defeating Belal Muhammad to claim the welterweight title at UFC 315 in Montreal, Della Maddalena is reportedly set to challenge Islam Makhachev next. According to UFC CEO Dana White, Makhachev will move up from the lightweight division, vacating his title, to compete for the 170-pound belt against Della Maddalena at a date yet to be announced.
Despite Makhachev`s formidable 27-1 record, impressive streak of five straight UFC championship wins, and being undefeated for nearly a decade, Della Maddalena`s coach, Ben Vickers, remains unfazed. Vickers is not merely confident in a win, but believes his fighter will finish the contest before the final bell.
Vickers revealed that after reviewing footage of Makhachev, specifically his bout against Dustin Poirier, he concluded that Della Maddalena possesses the necessary tools for victory, predicting a knockout. He noted that while he had previously enjoyed watching Makhachev fight, he had not studied him as a potential opponent until recently.
Highlighting Makhachev`s fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, where Poirier managed moments of effectiveness before being ultimately controlled and submitted in the fifth round, Vickers believes Della Maddalena can exploit similar vulnerabilities when they face off for the welterweight title.
Quoting Vickers, he pointed to a specific instance in the Poirier fight: “The first jab [Makhachev] took… when he got the takedown afterwards, he was wincing and rubbing his eye.” Vickers inferred from this and general observations that Makhachev “is not used to taking damage” or engaging in “tough fights with someone pushing the pace.” He also reminded that Makhachev “has been knocked out before.”
Vickers further emphasized Della Maddalena`s physical advantages: “Jack’s got size on him.” He described Della Maddalena as “the complete package,” possessing a combination of skills, a resilient chin, and the sheer determination to succeed. Vickers concluded by expressing a high level of confidence heading into the potential matchup.
Acknowledging Makhachev`s frequent use of wrestling to control opponents, Vickers anticipates a significant grappling challenge for Della Maddalena. However, he noted Della Maddalena`s demonstrably improved takedown defense against Belal Muhammad and stated that preparation would focus on countering Makhachev`s potentially even stronger grappling attack.
Conversely, Vickers expressed doubt that any amount of preparation could adequately equip Makhachev to handle Della Maddalena`s striking ability.
When asked if he expects Makhachev to prioritize takedowns immediately, Vickers responded emphatically, “One thousand percent.” He argued that despite any striking improvements Makhachev may have made, he wouldn`t be able to match Della Maddalena`s natural talent: “You can’t learn to strike… Jack’s a thoroughbred striker. Whether you’ve been working on it for five years or not, you’re not going to catch up with Jack.” He asserted that Della Maddalena would dominate the stand-up exchanges, especially given his size advantage.
Vickers also contrasted Makhachev`s “traditional” striking style with the more unconventional and difficult-to-read movement of Belal Muhammad, suggesting Makhachev might be a less complex striking puzzle.
It is important to note that a specific date for the highly anticipated Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev fight has not yet been announced. However, excitement remains high for this intriguing clash, particularly following Della Maddalena`s standout performance in his recent title-winning effort.
This author personally predicts a victory for Jack Della Maddalena in this matchup.
