Islam Makhachev’s Coach Warns Jack Della Maddalena Not to Underestimate His Striking
Islam Makhachev has left that lightweight crown behind, and the next one he’s expecting to compete against is Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden. The fight signposts his pursuit of a second belt in another division, with the majority thinking that JDM has the skills to shake things up in a big way. But Team Khabib coach Javier Mendez has warned Della Maddalena not to overlook the Dagestani-Russian, whose background is also in Sambo.
While many people think of Makhachev as a grappler, his coach cautioned against thinking of Makhachev as a striker because he’s a grappler. He explained that fighters who think they will have it easier striking don’t quickly learn that it’s many times harder when they see what getting in the cage with Makhachev is all about. His assertion was that strikers tend to have a very difficult time with the lightweight champion and that his footing creates many more issues than a striker might perceive.
He said, “I hope JDM goes in believing that, because when he gets in there with Islam, he’s gonna find out a whole different story. By no means is Islam an easy fight for anybody. Any MMA fighter that’s a striker is not going to have an easy time with him. Don’t go by what you see, when you’re in there with that man, it’s a whole different ball game.”
Islam Makhachev's coach warns JDM not to underestimate Islam’s striking 👀
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 3, 2025
"I hope JDM goes in believing that, because when he gets in there with Islam, he’s gonna find out a whole different story. By no means is Islam an easy fight for anybody. Any MMA fighter that’s a striker… pic.twitter.com/JQMAnI70Ag
While many have reservations about the size difference, Javier Mendez has made it clear that it doesn’t matter to him. In line with his confidence, several UFC fighters also back the Dagestani to win.
Colby Covington Backs Islam Makhachev Over Jack Della Maddalena
Covington shared his view on the fight, saying Makhachev may be smaller since he’s moving up from lightweight, but his skills make him dangerous. He believes Makhachev’s wrestling and control could be the key, though size might play a role. In the end, Covington sided with Makhachev since the odds were in his favor.
Many think it is Makhachev’s toughest test thus far, especially acting as the challenger for this fight. The awkward size difference is no attention seeker either. However, oddsmakers and analysts remain bullish on the Dagestani and have made him the favorite as UFC 322 approaches.
Islam Makhachev’s Coach Warns Jack Della Maddalena Not to Underestimate His Striking
News Daily Reports
No comments: