AYER TO THRONE
Bisping nose a ‘special talent’ when he sees one
WITH a nose flatter than Ayers Rock, Jack Della Maddalena looks more like a battle-tested journeyman than one of MMA’s hottest prospects.
But once again the Aussie was more accurate and destructive than Glenn McGrath at the Gabba as he claimed his third straight first-round win in the UFC when he forced Danny Roberts to the canvas after some pinpoint strikes took a heavy toll on the Brit.
The 26-year-old welterweight’s performance at the Apex in Las Vegas was so impressive it led former middleweight champion Michael Bisping to declare: “He is special, he is a special talent. I will tell you right now, he is a future title contender.
“His composure, his shot selection, no wasted energy or movements and he never misses an opportunity. But the hands on this kid are something special.”
Della Maddalena, who is on a 13-fight winning streak, having last lost in 2016, took just three minutes and 24 seconds to get his hand raised and his boxing skills will have the top 15 in the division looking nervously over their shoulders.
He said: “It was an awesome fight.
I felt I was zoned in pretty well and I could see everything he was throwing at me.
“That meant I could just step back, take my time and wait for the shot and get him out of there early, which is exactly what I wanted to do.
“I have finished a few people so I know what to look for. My game plan is to move a lot and damage.
“‘The best boxer in MMA’ is a cool title but I want to be ‘the best MMA fighter in the UFC,’ not the best boxer. I want to be No.1 in the UFC.”
Della Maddalena is hoping to be back on our screens quicker than a
Neighbours relaunch when the UFC goes Down Under for the first time since 2019 for a huge pay-per-view card in February.
Having consistently travelled halfway around the world to America to start his career in the company, Della Maddalena is desperate for a homecoming in Perth, saying: “I would love to fight someone in that top 15 area. But the Perth fight is honestly more about the location.
“I felt a bit of pressure as I wanted to get this one out of the way to get to Perth. I’m gunning for it. Anybody in Perth would be ideal and then it is just onto bigger and better next year.
“A ranked fighter would be the perfect start to what I hope is going to be another big year. But the first person they offer me, I will probably say yes just to lock in the date.”