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“Anyone can achieve anything!” | 06:26
Jack Della Maddalena says he will need less than a round to dethrone UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad — and rewrite Australia’s record books — while also stressing he is not set to ruin one of the most anticipated Octagon blockbusters of 2025.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, 28-year-old ‘Della’ has also branded fellow title contender Ian Machado Garry “delusional” and stressed, should Muhammad withdraw from their upcoming UFC 315 title blockbuster, he will fight the outspoken Irishman on only a few hours’ notice.
UFC 315: Muhammad vs Della Maddalena | SUN 11 MAY 12PM AEST | Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena challenges Belal Muhammad for the Welterweight Championship | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Already ranked among the most exciting prospects anywhere in Australian fighting, Maddelana is now looking to create record history when he challenges for Muhammad’s UFC crown in Montreal, Canada on May 11.
Should JDM triumph, it will be the first time in UFC history that two Australians have held world titles simultaneously, with Alexander Volkanovski having early this month also reclaimed featherweight gold.
Elsewhere, it has also been suggested that if Maddalena wins, he will likely scupper a proposed superfight between UFC lightweight king Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.
Earlier this year, Topuria vacated the UFC featherweight title as part of plans to move up and challenge Makhachev, although there have also been suggestions the lightweight champ is himself eyeing off a move up to chase UFC ‘Champ Champ’ status at welterweight.
While Makhachev and Muhammad have both suggested several times publicly that they are too close as friends to ever square off, a school of thought suggests that if JDM wins gold at UFC 315 then Makhachev will quit on a proposed Topuria superfight — which is already being touted for International Fight Week in Las Vegas — to challenge the West Australian.
Yet when asked about having one of the sport’s most hyped headliners in his hands this week, Maddalena suggested his winning the crown will have no bearing on Makhachev-Topuria taking place.
The breakout Aussie also doubled down on claims he made nine months ago that he could finish Muhammad in less than a round.
Speaking before UFC 305 last August in Perth, during a fan Q&A session, ‘Della’ was asked onstage about a proposed title fight — and immediately replied that he would finish the champ via a brutal left hand.
“Yeah, I think I would put him down, you know,” JDM grinned of Muhammad. “Pretty early really – done in one. No doubt.”
Reminded of those comments by Fox Sports Australia this week, the Aussie did anything but backtrack.
“I can finish this in a round, definitely,” he said.
“I believe I’ve got the power, I’ve got the striking acumen to take him out of there.
“So it’s definitely possible.
“And I actually think it’s meant to be.
“I think ‘done in one’ would be a real good way to start the championship run”.
Soon after, Maddalena continued: “While I am expecting Belal to go five rounds – and I’ve put the work in for five hard rounds – if the opportunity presents itself in round one, I’m going to take it.
UFC 315: Muhammad vs Della Maddalena | SUN 11 MAY 12PM AEST | Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena challenges Belal Muhammad for the Welterweight Championship | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Feared UFC champion Islam Makhachev.Source: AFP“From that opening bell, I’m going to be dangerous.
“And if I make the right decisions, I can get him out of there at any point during the fight.
“So I’ll be gunning to finish him from the very start.”
Should Maddalena win, it has been suggested Makhachev may then look to immediately move up and challenge him.
If that happens, there would be no showdown between the Dagestani superstar and Topuria — a blockbuster which, right now, is considered the biggest fight in the sport alongside UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones facing Tom Aspinall.
Maddalena, however, predicts Makhachev will stay where he is, even if the Aussie wins gold.
“I reckon they’re going forward with Islam fighting Topuria,” he stressed.
“Given the way everything is playing out right now – and I don’t know for sure what is happening – but I think that (them fighting) makes sense.
“And then down the track if Islam beats Topuria, yeah, then we can make that fight happen.”
So as for how JDM sees things playing out for himself then?
“I think I’ll defend the belt first against one of the division’s other top contenders,” he continued.
“And once I beat Belal, that’s what I want too.
“Only because I see Islam and Ilia fighting later this year, and I don’t want to wait for that.
“I’d rather just get my own title reign underway.”
Which isn’t to say the Aussie wouldn’t accept a Makhachev showdown as his first defence.
“If Islam does decide after my win that he wants to move up immediately,” the Perth native continued, “it’s a great fight and you certainly couldn’t deny him that opportunity.
“Not after what he’s done.
“Plus, there is already a good storyline there with him having fought Volk a couple of times.
“And I actually think Volk beat him the first time around.
“So that would be a big fight and I’d love to do it in Australia.
“But I feel like if I could get one defence in first, it only makes the Makhachev bout bigger.”
Elsewhere, Maddalena also welcomed news that Garry has been installed as the backup fighter for his UFC 315 headliner, after only recently defeating Carlos Prates via unanimous decision.
Back in December, the outspoken Irishman suffered the first loss of his professional career in a UFC 310 world title eliminator against fellow undefeated welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Yet when Rakhmonov was unable to take a proposed May title fight against Muhammad, JDM was given the nod – with Garry immediately, and loudly, bemoaning the Aussie getting a spot which, he insisted, should be his.
To which Maddalena now says what?
“For some reason he (Garry) seems to think that loss against Shavkat counts as a win because he had a close fight with the bogeyman,” the Aussie shrugged.
“But he got out classed in that fight.
“So to think he deserves the title fight off a loss, that’s a bit delusional.
“And while I understand I’ve had a layoff, I’m still coming off a win.
“He’s coming off a loss.
“So even if I wasn’t to get the title shot, I think it should’ve gone to Joaquin Buckley. That’s how I see it anyway.”
Regardless, JDM has no problem fighting Garry if the champ withdraws late.
“I think it’s always good to have a backup fighter there,” he said.
“That way if something does happen to Belal, if he can’t show up, nothing goes into limbo because we know exactly what’s on.
“So if Belal pulls out on the morning of the fight, I’m happy to still fight that evening, for sure.”
