Australian welterweight Jack Della Maddalena has expressed his desire to fight Islam Makhachev again. Della Maddalena stated that facing Makhachev is his goal, as he wants to challenge himself and see if he can improve his skills enough to secure a victory in a potential rematch. The post notes that achieving this goal will be difficult given the current level of competition in the division. It also suggests that Della Maddalena needs a convincing victory over Ian Machado Garry to make this rematch realistic. No timeline for a potential rematch was mentioned.
Jack Della Maddalena has made clear he wants another shot at Islam Makhachev, publicly stating his ambition to rematch the welterweight champion and prove he has closed the gap between them.
Della Maddalena, 29, carries an 18-4 record and sits fourth in the welterweight rankings, also placing thirteenth in the pound-for-pound standings. The Australian, who trains out of Scrappy MMA in Perth, is one of the division's most active offensive fighters, averaging 5.57 significant strikes per minute — among the highest volumes in the 170-pound weight class. He fights out of a switch stance and holds a 73-inch reach.
Standing in his way, at least in the immediate term, is Ian Machado Garry. The Irishman known as "The Future" is ranked first in the welterweight division at just 28 years old, carrying a 17-1 record. At six-foot-three with a 74-inch reach, Garry brings length and volume of his own, averaging 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy. A convincing win over Garry would be the clearest argument Della Maddalena could make for a second title opportunity.
Champion Islam Makhachev enters any rematch conversation as a formidable obstacle. The 34-year-old Russian holds a 28-1 record and is ranked first in the pound-for-pound rankings. He averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 58 percent of his significant strikes, giving him elite efficiency on the feet to complement his dominant grappling. No timeline for a potential rematch has been mentioned.
Why it matters
- Della Maddalena is ranked fourth but needs a statement win to push back to title contention
- A victory over the top-ranked Garry would be the most credible path to a Makhachev rematch
- The stylistic contrast between Della Maddalena's high-volume striking and Makhachev's grappling-heavy approach gives the potential rematch clear narrative weight
