“He’s gonna have to work to the wall if he wants to get up.” That is what ‘DC’ said when Belal Muhammad finally landed a takedown on Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 315. However, things didn’t turn out like that. Within a few moments after the takedown, Maddalena was yet again on his feet, and so was Belal, but his lips and face were cut by the Australian’s striking. And as the fight ended, the victor and the king of the 170-pounders became Maddalena.
However, the most talked-about aspect of the fight was Maddalena’s amazing takedown defense. Across the fight, Muhammad’s biggest weapon turned into his biggest flaw as he couldn’t get the takedowns on Maddalena, forcing him to strike with arguably the best boxer in the UFC. Following a unanimous decision victory, Maddalena had all the spotlights on himself, but not all to himself.
Cornering him for the fight was the BJJ Black belt and head coach at B Team Jiu-Jitsu, Craig Jones. It was the training and insights of Jones that helped Maddalena overcome the Arab-American’s superior wrestling, influenced by both American and Dagestani backgrounds. It was this wrestling that had Daniel Cormier worried about Maddalena, but Jones believed in his training and the Aussie’s abilities. But the argument didn’t settle down just then.
Recently, Craig Jones sat down with sports reporter Alexandra Wendling, where the BJJ expert didn’t hold back in his assessment of American wrestling post-UFC 315. In a candid interview, Jones stated, “Jack could just stand up. Yeah, obviously, DC is very biased; he thinks American wrestling is good. American wrestling is not good. American wrestlers, when it hits the ground or nothing happens, the referee saves them and stands them back up.”
He further emphasized the dominance of Australian grappling: “Unfortunately, MMA and Jiu Jitsu, we continue, and that’s where we really have an advantage again over American wrestlers, all wrestlers, especially Dagestani wrestlers. We’ve ruined their careers as well. But yeah, they do have a heavy bias, but we can beat those wrestlers. Australian grappling, far, far superior to all forms of wrestling.”
So what’s next for the great Australian coach and his agenda ahead to demolish American and Dagestani wrestling? Possibly his biggest challenge yet. After beating ‘Bully B, ‘ Maddalena opened the doors for a Dagestani phenom.
Islam Makhachev to fight for 170-pound throne next. Biggest challenge for Craig Jones yet?
With his victory at UFC 315, Jack Della Maddalena not only secured the welterweight title but also set the stage for a potential superfight against Islam Makhachev. Makhachev, who vacated his lightweight title to pursue a second championship in the welterweight division, is now poised to challenge Della Maddalena. Both fighters seem excited for the bout, as the Aussie said: “That would be nice… In Perth. That would be a bit of a story, Volk [revenge]. We’ll see. Anything’s possible.”
‘JDM’ seeks revenge, and so does Craig Jones. When Alexander Volkanovski fought Makhachev in their first fight, Jones was in the corner of Volkanovski. The effects of training under Jones were effective then, too, as Volk ended up giving Makhachev the toughest fight of his title reign, but couldn’t beat the Dagestani. After that, Jones only came out to help Maddalena demolish Muhammad, who trained alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team.
Now, for the next chapter, it seems Craig Jones is on a path to establish BJJ and Australian grappling at the top of MMA. His critiques have added fuel to the fire, questioning the dominance of traditional wrestling in MMA and championing the rise of Australian grappling. As the MMA landscape continues to evolve, this bout could serve as a big test for the effectiveness of diverse fighting disciplines at the highest level. In the words of Jones, the fight isn’t just about titles—it’s about proving the supremacy of a fighting style and, by extension, a nation’s approach to combat sports.
Craig Jones will be on ‘JDM’s cornerside when he faces Makhachev next. The question is, can Maddalena and Jones topple another superior wrestler with BJJ and the Australian grappling? Can they take revenge for Volkanovski? Or will Makhachev reign supreme again? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
The post Daniel Cormier’s American & Dagestani Wrestling Under Attack by Craig Jones’ Scathing Remarks After UFC 315 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
