Dan Hardy thinks Islam Makhachev is too well rounded for Jack Della Maddalena.
Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) makes his first welterweight title defense against Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) in the UFC 322 main event on Nov. 15 from Madison Square Garden in New York.
Makhachev will be moving up to 170 pounds after a division-record four title defenses at lightweight, and Hardy thinks there’s no better time for him to make the switch.
“I’ve been high on JDM for a long time,” Hardy said in an interview with Helen Yee. “I remember doing interviews back when Ngannou was crossing over to boxing, and people were talking about who’s got the best hands in MMA, and I was saying JDM at the time. His boxing has always impressed me, but at this point, I feel like Islam is moving up a weight class at the right time.
“There are a lot of fighters that stay in the weight class for too long, and they seem to stifle their physical growth. I don’t think Islam can stay healthy and stay in that lightweight division for any longer, and I think right now, he’s allowed himself to move into a division where his body is just going to grow into it. He’s going to be incredibly powerful.”
Most of Makhachev’s wins have come by submission, but he recently showed off his striking by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski in their rematch at UFC 294. Hardy expects Makhachev’s ground game to eventually overwhelm Della Maddalena.
“I just think Islam’s all-round game is so problematic for any single fighter,” Hardy said. “I see him taking it, and I see it probably a 50-50 striking exchange, Makhachev winning with a kicking advantage, but then his wrestling and his grappling taking over. Probably winning by sub in the championship rounds.”
