UFC 299: Is Jack Della Maddalena Australia’s next UFC champion?

Jack Della Maddalena has taken the UFC by storm, and is preparing for the biggest fight of his career. So the question must be asked... has Australia unearthed another UFC champion?

Jack Della Maddalena is preparing for the toughest fight of his career this weekend. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

He’s the 27-year-old, former rugby player who burst onto the UFC scene after Michael Bisping muddled up his last name in 2021.

And Perth’s Jack Della Maddalena – who has already turned boxing icon Danny Green into a fan – might just be Australia’s next UFC champion.

The rising welterweight star, who is 6-0 in the UFC, faces his toughest challenge at UFC 299 in Miami this weekend when he fights the fifth-ranked veteran Gilbert Burns.

A win will see him shoot up the 170-pound rankings.

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“If you beat the guy with the ranking, you take his number – that’s my thought,” Della Maddalena tells this masthead.

“He’s a top five guy, he’s someone I’ve been watching ever since I was still on the local circuit.

“It’s a good test to break into the top five myself, and I think I’ve got the tools to beat him.”

Della Maddalena has made steady progress up the welterweight rankings. Picture: Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

Since that appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, when Bisping stumbled over his name, Della Maddalena reeled off four consecutive first round victories and two split decisions to sit 11th in the rankings.

Bisping goofy ass pronouncing Della Maddalena on the contender series.. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/DeGQ77NbOv

— Titanium Mac (@daileymma) February 20, 2023

Bisping now calls him one of the best boxers in the UFC and is adamant he’s a future world champion.

At the top of the division, current champ Leon Edwards is still looking for an opponent, with Belal Muhammad – fresh off a decision win over Burns – seemingly next in line.

Shavkat Rakmanov and Ian Garry are rising up the ranks, while Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev have made the move to middleweight. Meanwhile, veterans like Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson are approaching the end of their careers.

That leaves Della Maddalena in prime position to make a run for the title.

Welterweight champion Leon Edwards is looking for a fight. Picture: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

And it could come sooner than anyone anticipated.

“There’s a lot to play out, but I don’t know…” he said when asked who should get the next title shot at Edwards, before adding: “Me. If I can put Burns down, I think I should jump the line.

“If they were gonna give the title shot to Belal, and that fight hasn’t been signed yet, then I finish the guy Belal couldn’t finish, then that fight (Edwards vs Muhammad) doesn’t make sense.”

As Aussie MMA fans know though, ‘Giacomo’ is a guy who’ll fight anyone, anywhere, any time.

“I’ll fight Belal too,” he said. “That’d be a sick fight.

“Ian Garry – I actually met him once – and he’s a guy I’ll fight at some point. I don’t think it’ll be soon, but we’ll cross paths at some point over the next few years.

“But if they offered it now, I’d take it.”

Della Maddalena says a fight between him and Ian Garry (L) will happen one day. Picture: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Just as there’s an evolution happening in the welterweight division, something similar is happening in local scene.

Alex Volkanovski is adamant on getting his featherweight title back, but has already spoken about his time in the sport being limited.

Rob Whittaker has propelled himself back into the middleweight picture.

But Tyson Pedro just retired, and fresh faces like Steve Erceg, Jack Jenkins and Josh Culibao are coming through.

Della Maddalena though, seems to be the next cab off the rank.

“A win over Gilbert Burns would put me close to being the next Australian title challenger,” he said. “Although Rob’s back with a win and Steve Erceg might beat me to it.”

Gilbert Burns (R) was injured during his loss to Belal Muhammad (L) last year. Picture: Getty Images

All that will be a moot point unless he can dispatch Burns in Miami this weekend though.

“I’ve looked at Gilbert’s fights in his prime and am hoping that’s the Gilbert that rocks up,” he said. “He can hit hard and he’s aggressive and very tough.

“His biggest strength is his grappling, but he’s also strong against the cage.

“But he’s very wild on his feet and he tends to get into brawls.”

That plays directly into Della Maddalena’s next-level boxing.

“When it’s a firefight, he tends to just swing wildly,” he said. “I reckon I’ll be able to time the shot and put him down.

“I’ll be trying to get the finish as quickly as possible – I’m going for the finish.”

Originally published as UFC 299: Is Jack Della Maddalena Australia’s next UFC champion?