Jack Della Maddalena Plans to Involve Volkanovski in Preparation for Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena doesn’t have a date for his expected title defense against Islam Makhachev, but it’s never to early to start getting ready for the pound-for-pound king.

Della Maddalena claimed welterweight gold with a unanimous decision triumph against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 on May 10 in Montreal. With his friend and training partner no longer at the top of the division, that cleared the way for Makhachev to vacate the lightweight strap to pursue championship dreams in a new weight class.

“I think Islam is a better version of Belal,” Della Maddalena recently told The West Sport. “The striking on the feet, I think it’s easier than Belal because he’s more just he’ll stay in one stance. He’s more [of a] traditional style, but yeah, he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1 so it’s a tough fight.

“But I guess we will just watch all these fights again, make a solid game plan, then just start working at it. From pretty much now, I’m going to start working on ways to beat him, ways to get back to my feet, stuffing the takedown, but I’m pretty confident I can get this one done.”

As he begins training for Makhachev, Della Maddalena will call on his fellow Aussie, Alexander Volkanovski, for support. The UFC’s reigning featherweight king fought Makhachev twice in 2023 and gave the Dagestani one of his toughest tests in their first meeting at UFC 284.

“Yeah, 100 percent, I definitely plan to [work with Volkanovski],” Della Maddalena said. “After the last two fights, I’ve spent a bit of time in Woolongong. So yeah, I think, [it will] probably be the first stop to go to Woolongong, talk to Volk, see what he reckons.”

Even if it isn’t against Makhachev, Della Maddalena has designs on eventually defending the belt in his native Perth. However, the UFC will only hold a Fight Night in the Australian city in 2025, but a pay-per-view is scheduled for the following year.

I think it’s gonna happen. It’s inevitable,” Della Maddalena said. “I truly believe I can beat Makhahev. I’m just going to start working at it now. I’ve got the right people around me, the right game plan — I’m gonna make it happen for sure…The dream come true would be defending the belt in Perth. I think it’s inevitable. There’s some tough fights ahead, but I”m gonna make it happen. It’s gonna be a special moment.