Australian UFC welterweight fighter Jack Della Maddalena set to defy a broken arm to take on Kazakh champion
Jack Della Maddalena wants to be part of a “wild” homecoming if the UFC arrives in Perth - but must first overcome a broken arm, writes BRENDAN BRADFORD.
Jack Della Maddalena will have surgery on his broken arm this week, but is adamant he’ll be ready to fight the most-feared man in the welterweight division, Shavkat Rakhmonov, in Perth, if the UFC returns in August, as has been rumoured.
The West Australian also rubbished Colby Covington’s claims that the winner of a Della Maddalena vs. Rakhmonov bout should fight him for a shot at champion Leon Edwards.
And, with fellow Perth local Steve Erceg fighting Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight strap at UFC 301 on May 5, Della Maddalena predicts a blockbuster card at Perth’s RAC Arena.
“I reckon Erceg’s gonna spark him and take the world title,” Della Maddalena told this masthead. “I reckon he could grab the belt and turn around and defend it in Perth. That would be wild.”
First though, Della Maddalena will go under the knife after breaking his arm blocking a kick early on in his third round knockout win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 299.
Della can’t pinpoint the exact moment the injury happened, and didn’t tell his corner something was wrong during the fight. It was only when the pain kicked in moments after his stunning late finish that he revealed the extent of the injury.
“He threw a lot of kicks, but I can’t tell which one it was that did it,” Della Maddalena said. “I couldn’t make a fist, but there was no pain – I can thank the adrenaline for that I guess.
“I was still throwing it, just making as much of a fist as I could. Even if it was injured, I just had to commit to throwing it.”
His arm will take 12 weeks to heal, and Della Maddalena says he’ll take a family holiday with wife Michelle and son Franco before focusing on an August return.
“I’ll be good to go mid-August, and if there’s a fight in Australia, I’m pretty confident that I’ll get to that,” he said. “As soon as I can start doing some cardio, I’ll get going.”
Della Maddalena called out the 18-0 Rakhmonov in his post-fight interview in Miami, and said a win over the much-feared Kazakh should propel him into title contention.
“Our timelines match up, so hopefully we can get him down to Australia and put on a title eliminator fight,” he said. “Outside the champion, Shavkat’s the most dangerous guy in the division and I want to fight him now.
“In the whole UFC roster, he’s the boogeyman, he’s the one everyone thinks is the man. Everyone thinks he’s a future champion. And I think I can beat him.
“It’s a good challenge and I think it’s a good fight.
“If I go in there and beat Shavkat, there’d be absolutely no questions and everyone would agree that I’m next in line.”
He’s even open to fighting the loud-mouthed Covington, but laughed off suggestions from the American that it should be a number one contender fight.
“I think that’s crazy,” he said. “If I go in there and beat Shavkat, and Leon beats Belal (Muhammad, the number one contender), that is absolutely the fight to make.
“If I fought Colby, there would still be a lot of questions about whether I deserve the title shot.
“Even the Kamaru Usman fight, if they offered me that, I think I’d take it.
More Coverage
“Me and Shavkat will fight one day, but if I got offered (Usman), it might be the only chance I get to fight him. Me and Shakvkat are going to cross paths at some point.
“But, I’m keen to fight in Australia, and Shavkat’s the toughest fight.
“Shavkat’s there, Covington’s there, Kamaru Usman’s there, and I plan on fighting all of them.”
Originally published as Australian UFC welterweight fighter Jack Della Maddalena set to defy a broken arm to take on Kazakh champion
Who will be Australia’s next UFC world champion?
Australian MMA is on the verge of a changing of the guard, so we’ve highlighted the rising stars who could become this country’s next UFC world champion.
Social media erupts over Rogan-Harris pic
Podcaster Joe Rogan, one of the most outspoken voices in the lead-up to the election, has gone viral over a Kamala Harris image.
‘Going to die’: Harrowing account in rape case
A woman broke down as she told court she thought she was going to die and would never see her daughter again during an alleged rape by Conor McGregor.