Della Maddalena backs Garry for title shot vs Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena has thrown his support behind Ian Garry as a worthy title challenger, suggesting the unbeaten Irish welterweight deserves a shot at UFC champion Islam Makhachev in a potential cross-division super fight.

Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th pound-for-pound, carries genuine credibility when weighing in on the 170-pound landscape. The 29-year-old Australian, who trains out of Scrappy MMA, holds an 18-4 record and has established himself as one of the division's most dangerous strikers, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy. At five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, he has the physical tools to compete at the highest level and his endorsement of Garry signals a recognition of the contender's standing among welterweight elites.

Standing across the hypothetical matchup would be Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion and the UFC's number-one pound-for-pound fighter. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw carries a 28-1 record and represents perhaps the most complete mixed martial artist in the sport today. Fighting out of Eagles MMA, Makhachev combines elite grappling — averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — with sharp striking at 58 percent accuracy, making him a uniquely difficult puzzle for any challenger.

Why it matters

• Della Maddalena's ranking gives his comments real divisional weight, framing Garry as a legitimate option rather than a fringe contender
• A Garry title shot against Makhachev would represent a rare cross-division super fight, adding intrigue beyond a standard welterweight title defense
• The debate stirs the welterweight hierarchy at a time when rankings shifts could directly affect Della Maddalena's own path to a title shot