Jack Della Maddalena Prepares for UFC Welterweight Title Defense

New York, NY — UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena is ready to defend his title against Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. The fight is highly anticipated as Makhachev attempts to move up a division and pursue his second title.

Della Maddalena, who holds an undefeated 8-0 record in the UFC, sees himself as the underdog in this matchup despite being the champion. He stated, “I feel like I have everything to prove even though I’m the champion.” Della Maddalena originally won the welterweight title in May against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315.

The fighter from Perth, Australia, is keenly aware of Makhachev’s achievements, which include an impressive reign in the lightweight division. “Being able to defend my belt against a great is a special moment,” said Della Maddalena. “It’s time to go out there and prove it to the world.”

Della Maddalena has been training intensely for this fight for about 15 weeks. He emphasized the motivation he feels entering this championship bout, calling it the biggest challenge of his career. “I believe I’ve got the skills to beat Makhachev,” he added.

The welterweight champion is not only focused on his own title defense but also on inspiring upcoming Australian fighters. “(Whittaker and Volkanovski) really inspired me,” he noted, referring to fellow Australian fighters Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski. “If I could inspire one future champion, it’s pretty special.”

With his championship belt on the line, Della Maddalena is excited to showcase his skills in one of the biggest fighting venues in the world. “I want to be a defending champion,” he stated. “I’m gonna leave it all out in the Octagon.”

UFC 322 is set to include a stacked card with notable matchups, including Valentina Shevchenko against Zhang Weili. Fans can catch the event live starting with prelims at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET.