TLDR
- Islam Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena via unanimous decision (50-45 x3) at UFC 322, marking Della Maddalena’s first MMA loss
- Makhachev moved up from lightweight to claim the welterweight title in his first fight at 170 pounds
- Della Maddalena had won the title by defeating Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May 2025
- Coach Ben Vickers praised his fighter despite the loss, calling it “the beginning not the end”
- Carlos Prates knocked out former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322 and called for a title shot against Makhachev
Jack Della Maddalena lost his UFC welterweight championship to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 in New York. Makhachev won by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 50-45.
The loss marked the first defeat in Della Maddalena’s MMA career. The Australian fighter had won the welterweight title by beating Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May 2025.
Makhachev moved up from lightweight to challenge for the welterweight belt. Despite concerns about the weight jump, the fighter dominated throughout all five rounds. He kept Della Maddalena on his back for most of the fight.
Islam Makhachev dominates Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 🥊 – Takedowns, top control, and elite MMA strategy lead to a unanimous decision victory! pic.twitter.com/jtDZfAeHXM
— ibet Global (@ibetGlobal) November 19, 2025
Della Maddalena had trained with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski before the bout. Volkanovski had faced Makhachev twice previously, losing both times. The preparation did not provide the advantage the team had hoped for.
Since the loss, Della Maddalena has stayed quiet on social media. His coach Ben Vickers released a statement about the defeat. “I am more proud of Jack and the team today than ever before,” Vickers said.
Vickers acknowledged the pain of losing but emphasized the team’s courage in taking the fight. He stated this was “the beginning not the end” for his fighter. The coach thanked supporters for their encouragement over the past weeks.
Potential Next Opponents
Several options exist for Della Maddalena’s next fight. Shavkat Rakhmonov represents one possibility for the former champion. Rakhmonov has been out with an injury for about a year.
18 fights, 18 wins, 18 finishes. Actions speaks louder than words 👊🏼🇰🇿 pic.twitter.com/nTCxfZFWM0
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) December 17, 2023
His last victory came against Ian Machado Garry in December 2024. Rakhmonov holds a perfect 7-0 UFC record. A win over him would put Della Maddalena back in title contention.
Ian Machado Garry presents another potential matchup. This fight depends on Garry’s upcoming bout against Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night 265 in Qatar. If Garry wins, a clash with Della Maddalena would create a high-profile striking battle.
Garry’s only loss came against Rakhmonov. He bounced back by defeating Carlos Prates in his most recent fight.
Welterweight Division Movement
Carlos Prates made a statement at UFC 322 by knocking out Leon Edwards. Prates became the first fighter to finish Edwards by knockout. He called for a title shot against Makhachev after the win.
Michael Chiesa believes Prates needs one more victory before earning a title fight. Chiesa suggested a matchup between Prates and Della Maddalena would make sense. “That’s a main event on a Fight Night, that’s a five-round co-main event on a pay-per-view,” Chiesa told MMA Junkie.
Prates holds a UFC record of 6-1. Before knocking out Edwards, he scored a spinning back elbow knockout against Geoff Neal at UFC 319. His only UFC loss came in a main event against Ian Machado Garry.
Sean O’Malley commented on Della Maddalena’s situation. The former bantamweight champion felt bad for the Australian fighter. O’Malley noted that facing Islam Makhachev in a first title defense was extremely difficult, especially after already beating Belal Muhammad.
Ian Machado Garry faces Belal Muhammad this Saturday at UFC Fight Night 265 in Qatar.
