Jack Della Maddalena had already impressed fans with his impressive knockout victory against Gilbert Burns at UFC 299. However, in the UFC 315 main event against Belal Muhammad, he took it to a whole new level. Combining slick, high-level striking with near-impenetrable takedown defense, the Aussie delivered a performance worthy of gold. JDM brought another championship belt home to Australia, making Robert Whittaker very proud. So, what should be the next target for the new champion?
Well, ‘The Reaper’ feels he should start chasing new goals. For the unversed, Whittaker became the middleweight champion at the age of 26. Being a champion at such a young age does have its own perks. However, it also has its own drawbacks, as many fighters tend to lose the motivation to work hard in the gym. Maddalena has now won the belt at 28 years old, and the former champion has some words of advice for him. While speaking on the ‘Submission Radio’ show, he said, ” It’s hard to say. Everybody’s different. I think a big thing for me was reestablishing goals. That’s a huge one. I think it’s a lot of guys”.
‘The Reaper’ has the experience of staying at the top level for a long time now and knows exactly what needs to be done. He further added, ” It’s a big thing that a lot of champion guys that reach the top of the game, guys that get the belt wrapped around their waist, struggle to do right? They’ve worked and they’ve grinded all throughout their career to work their way up to the pinnacle of the sport. And then achieve it. And they’re kind of left in limbo, right? Not knowing where the next goal is, what got them into the gym six days a week, you know. So, I think having goals and goal-setting is super important for any new champion.”
The new champion is all set for the biggest challenge of his career after Islam Makhachev has moved up to the welterweight division. Makhachev’s dream is very much alive after the events of UFC 315. But what unfolded in Montreal did more than just silence those questions—it set the stage for something even bigger. Della Maddalena’s stunning performance locked in a massive super-fight with the Dagestani powerhouse. But does the new champion have what it takes to go against the 33-year-old fighter? Well, Robert Whittaker feels he has.
Robert Whittaker feels Jack Della Maddalena has what it takes to beat Makhachev
Jack Della Maddalena is still basking in the glory of his championship win, but the honeymoon phase won’t last as his toughest test yet is fast approaching. Moving to the welterweight division comes up with its own challenge, but the Dagestani fighter is already preparing for it. One of the biggest concerns will be the weights of the fighters he will now be facing in his new division. Makhachev has always been a big lightweight, which has helped him in his past fights. But when he goes against Maddalena, it will be the ‘X’ factor of the champion that will be the difference, feels Whittkaer.
During the same conversation on ‘Submission Radio’, the former middleweight champion shared his honest opinion on the upcoming fight. He said, “Okay, that’s always the question everybody asks when anybody is moving up a weight division or down a weight division. But saying that, I think that Islam can do everything that Belal does, but way better. So, and the fight I thought Jack handedly had to fight, but it was a fight. So I don’t think it will be an easy fight for Jack, but I believe in Jack. I think he’s got that X factor. He’s got that hunger there. You know, he’s got the ticker. And you know, just like with Belal, just like with Burns before, it’s, yeah, I think he can do the impossible.” Size-wise, Islam Makhachev goes stride for stride with Jack Della Maddalena—a point the welterweight champ himself has acknowledged.
Also, the Dagestani phenom has assembled an impressive list of victories over top-tier talent and has a lot of experience. However, one just cannot neglect the performance of the champion against the best wrestler in the division. Who do you think holds the upper hand in the clash? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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