Following the conclusion of UFC 315 at Montreal’s Bell Centre, Austrian sensation Jack Della Maddalena delivered a seismic shake-up in the welterweight division. Making the most of his first title shot, the 28-year-old Perth native seized the opportunity handed to him by Dana White & Co. in spectacular fashion. With a clinical striking performance, Della Maddalena didn’t just dethrone Belal Muhammad, he rather left the former champion visibly battered, marking a definitive statement in his rise to the top.
Riding high off the victory, Jack Della Maddalena wasted no time in calling his shot. With Islam Makhachev eyeing a move to 170 lbs, the newly crowned champion extended a bold challenge. During a phone call with Dana White and UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell, he asked, “Makhachev next, right? In Perth,” prompting White to reply reassuringly, “We’ll get this figured out.”
While the UFC has yet to make anything official, Islam Makhachev’s longtime coach, Javier Mendez, appears hesitant about one major condition, that is fighting in Australia. Speaking with Submission Radio, Mendez voiced his concerns about the long-distance travel from Russia or Dubai, emphasizing the toll it can take on fighters and teams. “No, it’s a no,” Mendez said bluntly when the host pointed out the travel time to Australia could be around 34 hours and 30 minutes.
The host then joked, “That would be a really nice first-class flight for the entire team, right? If that happens.” Having previously traveled to Australia with Islam Makhachev for UFC 294 in 2023, Mendez is well aware of the strain involved. He responded, “Who cares if they decide to make us do that. I mean, that’s what it is. But, you know, let’s hope that the pound-for-pound number one gets to make a decision, where if that’s what they offer us, because, you know, he is still number one, and we don’t know what’s going on.”
MMA: UFC 315 – Muhammad v Della Maddalena May 10, 2025 Montreal, Quebec, CANADA Belal Muhammad red gloves fights Jack Della Maddalena blue gloves during UFC 315 at Bell Centre. Montreal Bell Centre Quebec CANADA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xEricxBoltex 20250510_jhp_bb5_0341
While Islam Makhachev emerged victorious at UFC 284, defeating one of the featherweight GOATs, Alexander Volkanovski, it was far from a walk in the park, especially in enemy territory. That five-round battle pushed the Dagestani champion to his limits, but he prevailed. Despite the travel concerns, “Team Khabib” head coach Javier Mendez isn’t completely ruling out another fight in Australia. In fact, he seems to see something bigger in the works for his star pupil. What might that be? Let’s dig in.
What edge does Islam Makhachev hold in a potential fight against Jack Della Maddalena in Australia?
Islam Makhachev is one of the few exceptions who competes in his natural weight class. His walk-around weight is rumored to hover around 180 pounds, making him a natural fit for the welterweight division, especially at 5’10”. However, if he faces Jack Della Maddalena, size could still be a factor, as the Aussie is visibly larger than the reigning lightweight champion.
With Islam Makhachev turning 34 this year, weight cutting is only getting tougher. That’s why a move up to welterweight makes more and more sense. And with a potential fight in Australia looming, he and his team appear more than ready, particularly because coach Javier Mendez sees a strategic edge that many fans might not know about.
Unlike most Western countries that allow fighters around 36 hours to recover after weigh-ins, Australia follows a stricter 24-hour recovery window. For someone like Islam Makhachev, who won’t be cutting as much weight at welterweight, this could play to his advantage. In an interview with Submission Radio, Mendez explained:
“I’m thinking, logically speaking, he has to cut less weight, and the recovery time is a lot less too. But if it is in Australia, we’ll need it, because in Australia, they only give you 24 hours to recover—it’s not 36 hours like everywhere else. So we’ll only have a 24-hour recovery. If that’s the case, it’s fantastic. I don’t know if that’s going to be an advantage because of that reason, but if it’s anywhere else where it’s the 36-hour plus, then it’s a nice advantage for Islam to recover quicker.”
With nothing officially announced, what do you think is next for Islam Makhachev? Should Dana White and the UFC give him an immediate title shot at welterweight Jack Della Maddalena, or does he need to earn it by beating a top contender first? Share your opinion below!
The post Team Khabib Denies Jack Della Maddalena’s Only Condition for Islam Makhachev as UFC Lands in Dilemma appeared first on EssentiallySports.
