The Wrap: Jack Della Maddalena is a future UFC champion in waiting
After an unbeaten start to his UFC career, the tough and fearless Australian has shown the conviction to be soon challenging for the welterweight title
Jack Della Maddalena marked his entry into the top five in the finest fashion.
A well-deserved triumph in Miami over Gilbert Burns secured his seventh UFC career victory.
The Australian’s performance was all the more impressive given the adversity he faced - he was ranked seven places below his opponent prior to their bout on Saturday.
To beat Burns is one thing, but to do it in the way in which he did took something very special indeed.
Victory over Burns was his 18th win in a row, one which shows he is ready to take over from the old guard.
And it was also a timely reminder to those tipping the likes of Ian Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov, the latter of whom Della Maddalena called out following his victory.
I hasten to add, this wasn’t the first time he’s called him out either (see this interview I did with him back in 2022). He’s wanted that one for a while.
While Ireland’s Garry and Kazakhstan’s Rakhmonov are both talented fighters in their own right, the Perth native is undoubtedly a future UFC champion in waiting.
He has long been tipped as a future star of the UFC ever since he won a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, which came two-and-a-half years ago in Las Vegas.
True to form, Della Maddalena has raced through the UFC ranks since making his debut in 2022, finishing opponents on his way to becoming one of the most entertaining fighters on the roster.
Della Maddalena looks every inch a future champion, and his stoppage win over a former title contender was impressive to say the least. Burns, poor bloke, was left lying flat on his back in agony after eating some elbows from hell.
It is simply a matter of when, not if. Who can deny him now?
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