Merab Dvalishvili thinks Islam Makhachev is capable of dethroning Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.
Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) challenges welterweight champion Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the Nov. 15 main event at Madison Square Garden in New York (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
Most fighters think Della Maddalena’s size and ability to scramble will pose problems for the former UFC lightweight champion, but Dvalishvili is not ruling out Makhachev’s chances to make history and claim a second belt.
“It’s going to be hard for him, but it’s possible for Islam Makhachev to win the second belt,” Dvalishvili said in an interview with Helen Yee. “JDM is a great fighter, a great striker, but Islam is tricky. He has good wrestling, and he’s a southpaw. He doesn’t get hit, but he takes people down and he mauls people. Also, we all see the JDM-Belal Muhammad fight, and I’m sure Islam will take lots of lessons from the this fight and maybe make adjustments. It’s possible. It’s going to be hard, but Islam can win the second belt.”
Della Maddalena was able to predominantly keep the fight on the feet in his title-winning performance against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May. He stuffed six of Muhammad’s nine takedown attempts.
