Islam Makhachev Surprisingly Ranks Jack Della Maddalena’s Power Below Belal Muhammad

Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev diminishes Jack Della Maddalena's power ahead of UFC 322 superfight.

Islam Makhachev Surprisingly Ranks Jack Della Maddalena’s Power Below Belal Muhammad

Islam Makhachev diminishes Jack Della Maddalena in comparison to Belal Muhammad (via MMA Fighting, Bloody Elbow)

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Public framing ahead of championship bouts often begins with how the fighters themselves characterize one another, and this has already taken shape around Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena as their title fight approaches. When a former champion moves into a new division to challenge an active titleholder, the tone of such characterizations becomes part of the pre-fight narrative.

Makhachev is set to compete at UFC 322 in his first welterweight appearance after concluding a dominant run as lightweight champion. His debut at 170 pounds will come directly against the reigning champion Maddalena, who has remained unbeaten in the UFC and secured the belt through a sequence of decisive wins. JDM stepped in on short notice at UFC 315 to defeat Belal Muhammad.

Maddalena’s progress through the UFC has been driven primarily by his boxing-centric offense, with a significant portion of his wins coming by knockout. In the context of UFC 322, that striking profile has been framed as a meaningful problem for Makhachev as he moves up in weight. However, the former lightweight kingpin recently diminished the Australian champion’s power in an interview with ESPN.

He’s not some guy who has crazy power and he’s not so big in this division. For example, Belal, he has power. Kamaru Usman, this guy has good power. I don’t think Jack has more than me.

Islam Makhachev via ESPN

The UFC 322 main event has been viewed as a striker vs grappler matchup by many from the MMA community. Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, recently warned Maddalena not to overlook the Dagestani superstar’s striking prowess and believed that he was not an easy fight for anyone. However, Mendez also understood that Maddalena was a dangerous fighter, and they will tread carefully in camp.

There were questions about the size difference between them; however, Makhachev has put on significant muscle and was seen showcasing dangerous striking in the lead-up to the bout. The adjustment reflects the need to match the size, clinch resistance, and strike absorption common among established 170-pound contenders.

Islam Makhachev’s pre-fight assessment adds consequences beyond the result itself, because the outcome at UFC 322 will retroactively validate or undermine his ranking of Jack Della Maddalena’s threat level. A win would reinforce his read of the division as he enters a new weight class. A loss would turn his comparison into a documented misjudgment from a former champion.

Islam Makhachev commends Jack Della Maddalena’s wrestling defense

Islam Makhachev’s championship tenure has been defined by a grappling framework rooted in Dagestani sambo, blended with high-percentage wrestling. That style has allowed him to neutralize striking threats, secure prolonged top control, and finish bouts through positional dominance and submissions in the lightweight division. He has submitted the likes of Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano.

Islam Makhachev talks about Jack Della Maddalena's wrestling
Islam Makhachev talks about Jack Della Maddalena’s wrestling (via Sporting News, Black Belt Magazine)

Jack Della Maddalena is primarily known for his boxing, but he also holds a submission victory in the UFC, a rear-naked choke finish over Randy Brown at UFC 284. That result demonstrated that, while he is not a volume grappler, he can capitalize on defensive lapses on the mat. In the UFC 322 build-up, Makhachev has credited Maddalena with being difficult to control or finish on the ground.

He is good on the ground. He knows how to defend, how to escape, and get up. All his opponents in the UFC take him down, but he feels good on the ground. He doesn’t panic, doesn’t make mistakes.

Islam Makhachev via ESPN

The outcome will serve as a live measure of whether Makhachev’s transitional grappling structure scales effectively at welterweight when tested against a disciplined defender with finishing history and championship durability.

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