Jack Della Maddalena’s coach thinks his fighter has the attributes to upset Islam Makhachev.
Welterweight champion Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) makes his first title defense against Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) in the UFC 322 headliner on Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Della Maddalena claimed the welterweight title by outlasting Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May. The Aussie was able to keep the fight on the feet for the most part, outstriking Muhammad for five rounds. However, his head coach Ben Vickers isn’t sure Makhachev will be able to absorb the same amount of damage as Muhammad.
“I just don’t think Islam has the chin that Belal has,” Vickers told Submission Radio. “We know for a fact that if Jack clips someone clean on the chin, they can go over. So it could happen in the first minute, it could happen in the 24th minute, it could happen three rounds in. Jack likes long fights. He likes to be in there, but obviously we’re not getting paid for overtime.
“So if the opportunity arises, we’re happy to take it. But Jack’s cardio as we saw – Belal’s reputedly like the best cardio in the UFC and Jack out-cardio’d him. Belal was more tired than Jack toward the end of the fight. Jack’s cardio is exceptional. His power is exceptional. I like the fight – I really do.”
Vickers rubbished the claim that Muhammad lost to Della Maddalena because he opted to stand and strike with him over implementing his wrestling. He was asked what he expects out of Makhachev’s game plan.
“I don’t think he’s going to go out and try to test his striking, but I also don’t think he’s going to rush,” Vickers said of Makhachev. “He’s a very composed guy. He’s a very high-level, skillful person. He’s not going to rush and be running at Jack’s hips, but he is going to try and get a hold of Jack as quickly as possible – even if it’s just to try and tire him out in the early parts of the fight and getting him into his world quickly. He will take damage from Jack as Belal did if he’s on the feet.
“So I’m sure he’s going to not want to be there for as long as possible. We’ve all heard Khabib in the corner really like chastising Islam when he doesn’t go for the takedown. I definitely think there’s going to be a lot of input from Khabib in trying to get Islam to try and shoot the takedown often and early, but there’s going to be no rush and no panic. This guy is cool, calm, collected and composed, and he’s a phenomenal fighter.”
