Jack Della Maddalena backs himself to beat UFC ‘legend’ Islam Makhachev

UFC brag breaks up tense face-off betwixt the 2 fighters earlier their welterweight rubric bout astatine Madison Square Garden.

UFC brag Dana White had to abstracted a tense staredown betwixt welterweight rubric holder Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev earlier their fight this weekend, arsenic the defending champ pledged to bushed the mixed martial arts “legend” to bring the loop location to Australia.

The fighters came nose-to-nose and refused to interruption oculus interaction during a face-off aft their quality league connected Thursday astatine Madison Square Garden, New York, wherever they volition header UFC 322 connected Saturday night, yet starring White to prise them apart.

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Della Maddalena (18-2) volition equine his archetypal rubric defence aft beating Belal Muhammad by unanimous determination to go champion successful May. The 29-year-old Australian is undefeated successful the UFC and is present connected an 18-fight triumph streak overall.

The 34-year-old Makhachev (27-1), who is regarded arsenic a pound-for-pound large and is connected a 15-win streak, vacated his lightweight loop to determination up a value class.

Della Maddalena was taciturn but appeared unfazed arsenic helium received a chorus of boos from the assemblage astatine Thursday night’s quality conference, with his Dagestani hostile the wide fan-favourite.

“This is what I got successful this athletics for – large challenges, large moments. I’m excited for the situation and I’m looking guardant to it,” Della Maddalena said.

“I’m going to bring this loop backmost location to Australia, nary doubt,” helium added.

“Obviously, Islam’s a legend. A large triumph implicit him would beryllium a large sanction connected the resume and it would decidedly enactment maine up connected the pound-for-pound list.”

Makhachev responded by saying helium would spell 4-0 against Australian fighters – though helium whitethorn person been lumping the New Zealander Dan Hooker successful that list, arsenic his lone erstwhile Aussie hostile was Alexander Volkanovski, who Makhachev bushed twice.

“Australia, it’s a bully place. I was there, I similar it and present it’s 3-0, I volition marque it four,” helium said.

Della Maddalena deed backmost by saying respective Australian fighters were thriving successful the UFC.

“I americium precise arrogant to beryllium Australian, precise arrogant to rise the Australian flag,” helium said.

“Australia is precise competitive, it has a warring civilization and that’s wherefore we’re doing truthful well. We person 2 champions and aft this play we volition inactive person 2 champions.”

Although Della Maddalena and Makhachev are some well-rounded fighters, the Australian is renowned for his boxing portion the Dagestani is famed for his ferocious crushed game.

Makhachev smiled and said helium “didn’t know” erstwhile asked if Della Maddalena was the champion boxer successful the UFC.

“Jack is 1 of the best, but I americium besides a bully striker, truthful let’s spot who is better,” helium said.

Della Maddalena, meanwhile, told reporters helium would “absolutely” beryllium capable to support Makhachev’s takedown attempts for the full fight, arsenic helium did truthful efficaciously successful his triumph implicit Muhammad.

“[I tin bash it for the] afloat 25 minutes,” helium said, with a wry grin of his own.