Israel Adesanya sees Jack Della Maddalena having a definitive performance over Islam Makhachev at UFC 322.
Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) makes his first welterweight title defense against Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) in Saturday’s main event (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Disney+/FX, ESPN+) at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Based off of what Adesanya has seen from Makhachev’s lightweight title wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier, he sees Della Maddalena having success.
“I’m not trying to count Islam out, but I just know Jack. I know that when Jack keeps getting up, it’s going to be a problem,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Islam’s going to be forced to strike, and when he’s forced to strike with Jack, he’s going to get hurt. I think Islam’s the best of the Dagestanis, one of the best fighters in history, one of the most efficient, but even Dustin was able to get up and stop his submissions, and Dustin’s a f*cking gun.
“I’ve seen it live what Volkanovski can do with Islam when they were in Perth. That’s why I know he’s going to hurt Islam. Jack Della, I don’t see him getting hurt, I’ve never seen him get stopped. …I do think Islam will be able to get him down, but for how long? Not for long. He’s going to get stuffed from the beginning, in the middle, until Jack ends it.”
Della Maddalena faced a similar test in his title win over Belal Muhammad, where he was able to stuff most of his takedowns and inflict damage on the feet. Adesanya predicts a similar fight, but this time, with Della Maddalena getting the job done earlier.
“I really think Jack Della Maddalena has the skills to stifle Islam’s game and just put it on the feet, and knock him out,” Adesanya said. “Might be second round, might be third, but we’ll see.”
