Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena has given a revealing insight into the “anger” that consumed his devastating UFC title loss against Islam Makhachev — while also opening up on suggestions he secretly carried injury into the New York blockbuster, and the story behind coach Ben Vickers’ corner demand to “take that f***ing sad look off your face”.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, ‘Della’ also unveiled his bold plan to eventually reclaim the welterweight crown against UFC megastar Makhachev — “who I believe I can beat” — and after becoming the first man to finish Brazil’s Carlos Prates inside an Octagon.
PPV: UFC 327 Prochazka vs Ulberg | SUN 12 APRIL 11AM AEST | The UFC’s undisputed light heavyweight championship will be on the line, when Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg meet for the vacant title at UFC 327 | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Now four months on from suffering his smothering title loss at UFC 322, JDM is back and readying to headline a massive Perth event this May.
After giving only a handful of short interviews since the loss, the incredibly popular West Australian has now opened up on a range of topics surrounding his Madison Square Garden headliner,
In a wonderfully honest look back at the November event in New York — which was supposed to be his first title defence — the Aussie also heaped praise on Makhachev’s performance, explained where things were lost for him, and welcomed the chance to now earn a hometown moment long owned by childhood idol, Aussie boxing great Danny Green.
Better, Maddalena has also vowed to become the first UFC fighter to finish Prates — who is himself coming off a pair brutal KO wins against Leon Edwards and Geoff Neal.
‘I GOT STUCK RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM’
After becoming only the third Australian to ever win a UFC title in 2025, JDM then headed Stateside in November to defend his new title against Makhachev, with the longtime UFC lightweight moving up to chase greatness in a second division.
Undeniably, Della carried plenty of hype, and fans, into the Big Apple fight given a tear that included massive wins over the likes of Kevin Holland, Gilbert Burns and then champ Belal Muhammad.
Yet despite a positive fight week in the Big Apple, which included having his image beamed large in Times Square, Maddalena suffered a comprehensive shut out on fight night, with Makhachev keeping the usually dominant Aussie grounded for over 18 minutes of control time.
Eventually, all three judges gave the Dagestani wrasslin’ star the MSG bout 50-45, ending a hyped JDM run which had stretched through nine years and 18 fights.
Asked this week for his thoughts on what went wrong in New York, and the Aussie initially wanted only to give all praise to the fighter whow “was a step ahead of me every time”.
“Makhachev was the better man,” Maddalena started. “And if I want to be someone like that, I’ve got to improve.
“I’ve got to go out there at the top of my game and be prepared.
“I’ve only watched the fight back a handful of times, and it’s annoying to watch.
“But I definitely know where I need to improve and the things I need to do differently.
“Again, I got beat by the better man and need to be better.
“On the night, I definitely just got stuck.
Charles upsets Max to win BMF | 01:02
“The footwork wasn’t going so I just got stuck right in front of him.
“He had a good game plan, too.
“If I was in the southpaw stance, he would chop the leg. And when I’d go to check, or change stances, he’s an elite wrestler and was fast on the single leg. Super fast.
“He was a step ahead of me every time in the grappling.
“And then I was too defensive in my mindset on the floor. I should’ve been more aggressive.
“Watching back, the times where I put the effort in to get up I did get up. But the round had caught up to me, so it was right at the end.
“I just wish I was more aggressive at certain points and not conceded position.”
INJURY RUMOURS
Immediately after the loss, whispers swirled suggesting Maddalena had carried injury into the Madison Square Garden headliner, a topic the West Australian was reluctant to discuss this week.
However when pushed on the issue, JDM confirmed of having had issues in the build up.
“Ahhh, I had a rough camp,” the fighter said eventually. “But I’m taking nothing away from Makhachev.
“I was battling a couple of things in camp but that’s how it always goes.
“I’ve always come through before and won, too.
“At least in my recent run, I’ve overcome different stuff in camp, so it was just another thing really.
“And I’m certainly not going to take away from Makhachev’s performance by suggesting I was under 100 per cent …”
Asked if he was willing to expand, JDM said: “I don’t want to disclose any injuries or anything.
“I’ve always had injuries, but I’ve never disclosed anything I’ve had leading into a fight.
“And if I believed I couldn’t have given 100 per cent on that night, I would’ve pulled out.
“But never did I think I couldn’t give 100 per cent.
“Even in fight week I didn’t feel underprepared.”
“TAKE THAT F***ING SAD LOOK OFF YOUR FACE …”
After the New York loss, one of the most discussed moments involved Maddalena’s coach, Ben Vickers, prior to the final round, trying to verbally will his charge into action.
Apart from being one of Australia’s most respected MMA coaches, Vickers also sits among its most energetic – with his famed “keep pinging the c***” line having effectively helped JDM to his emphatic win against Belal Muhammad six months earlier.
In a final bid to push his man against a dominating Makhachev, Vickers said from the MSG corner: “Take that f***ing sad look off your face.
“You’ve got five minutes. It takes you one shot to finish a fight, alright?
“Put some hands on this c***. You haven’t touched him yet. You’ve gotta get after this c***, man. Take some risks. Fu***ing put damage on him.”
Quizzed on the advice now, and everything behind it, JDM offered a laugh, saying: “Yeah, I remember that.
“Again, I was just being too defensively minded.
“And getting schooled by someone, it just isn’t a good spot to be in.
“I think if I’d been more offensively minded, I could’ve turned it around at that point.
“And I have turned it around before.
“So that’s where the fight was lost I believe. In those moments.”
Pushed on the emotion on his face going into that final round, JDM continued: “I just couldn’t get off with anything.
“I was on the back foot and just couldn’t get my offence going.
“[I also knew] it was an underwhelming performance from me.
“The week itself had been awesome.
“I’d had so many friends and family around in New York, and I was definitely in a good headspace.
“I think I was just too emotional. And that played a part in the outcome.
“I always fight better when I’m not emotional, you know.
“Not too aggressive.
“But I probably took too much anger into the fight.
“And not for any real reason that I can think of.
“Maybe being champion played a part.
“I can’t really put a finger on why. Big stage, maybe? Tough opponent.
“It’s just how the cards fell for me on the night and it wasn’t my best performance mentally.”
REMATCH
So as for eventually punching his way into a Makhachev rematch?
“That’s the dream,” Della confirmed. “Especially for the competitor in me.
“While I know he was the better man, I’d love to have another crack because I do believe – as I did before the fight – that I can beat him.
“I do believe that.
“And I know now what I have to do differently, so we’ll see what happens.
“Maybe he runs through the competition and I put a couple of big wins together against top opponents. In a perfect world we line up again and run it back.”
UFC PERTH
Better, JDM now gets the chance to put himself right back into contention with a big win over Prates in May.
“And I can’t wait,” he said. “I’ve had some time to work on things, and now get the chance to fight at home, in front of those people who have supported me for so long.
“People who don’t necessarily have the chance to travel and watch me fight in places like the US.
“So this will be cool for them.”
Elsewhere, JDM will also finally get to experience the Perth headliner ‘pop’ that has so famously greeted the likes of both fellow Perth boy Green and close mate, UFC featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.
Big Rodrigues right hand lands early KO! | 00:27
“And I have tried to visualise it,” Maddalena said of that moment he walks out for that first UFC headliner in his hometown. “Because obviously you don’t want those moments to get overwhelming.
“It’s going to be incredible.
“And not many fighters ever get to experience that. Walking out into a packed arena where 90 per cent of the people are behind me, that’s exciting.
“I want to embrace that moment and then repay everyone with a clean, dominant performance.”
Thoughts on Prates?
“He’s a top contender. Dangerous contender,” JDM continued.
“So if I can get a strong finish over him – which nobody else has had – it puts me right back into the mix.
“Obviously [after losing the title] I was devastated for a while, but that’s the sport.
“You can’t hang your head for too long.
“I’ve seen plenty of team-mates heartbroken before.
“But you learn from your mistakes. Move forward.
“That’s the beauty of the sport.
“And for me, I’ve now gone five rounds with the best guy. So I’ve gained experience.
“Right now, I feel in a better place physically then I was even close to that last fight.
“I’m in a way better spot.
“I’m coming into this fight to show my full array of skills.”
* Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT: DELLA MADDALENA vs. PRATES go on sale this Friday, March 27 at 2pm AEDT via Ticketek. Fans can register their interest to access presale ticket information at UFC.com/Perth.