TLDR
- Nick Diaz criticized Jack Della Maddalena for poor ground game after losing UFC title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322
- Diaz said he doesn’t feel sorry for Della Maddalena and questioned his understanding of basic grappling fundamentals
- Makhachev dominated the fight with ground control for 20 minutes, winning 50-45 on all scorecards
- Diaz claimed he could pass Della Maddalena’s guard himself and tap him out, unlike Makhachev’s control style
- Diaz recently returned from rehab and has been making headlines with commentary on current fighters and old rivalries
Sources: Bloody Elbow | Sportskeeda | EssentiallySports
Nick Diaz has delivered harsh criticism of Jack Della Maddalena following the Australian fighter’s lopsided loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322. The Stockton native said he does not feel sorry for the former welterweight champion after watching him struggle on the ground.
Della Maddalena lost his title to Makhachev at Madison Square Garden in a fight that ended with all three judges scoring it 50-45. Makhachev controlled the Australian on the ground for nearly 20 of the 25-minute contest.
Speaking during a training session on Jake Shields’ Fight Back Podcast, Diaz questioned Della Maddalena’s understanding of basic grappling fundamentals. He suggested the former champion never learned how to properly defend guard passes or escape dominant positions.
“You watch this fight with Islam and the f*cking Australian. The poor guy is like I don’t feel sorry for him cause he needs to learn to get up,” Diaz said. “You didn’t learn how to go back and systematically understand why a black belt is putting in passing your guard.”
Diaz Claims He Would Perform Differently
The former Strikeforce champion went further by claiming he could pass Della Maddalena’s guard himself. He drew a distinction between his approach and Makhachev’s control-focused style.
“If that was me, I would. I’m not f*cking Islam. I’ll pass your guard and tap you out,” Diaz stated. “Islam’s not going to pass your guard and tap you out. He’s going to stay there and keep control from there. But why are you being controlled from there. That’s the question.”
Makhachev echoed similar sentiments in a post-fight interview with Match TV. The champion said he was surprised by how limited Della Maddalena’s escape options proved to be during the fight.
“When I took him down and saw him try that same reversal on me [that he used against Muhammad]. I was already prepared for it and defended it,” Makhachev explained. “That’s when I realized he had nothing else besides that move.”
The Dagestani fighter added that once he defended Della Maddalena’s primary escape attempt, he knew the Australian would remain stuck on the bottom for extended periods.
Della Maddalena Admits Frustration
Della Maddalena acknowledged after the fight that the bout felt frustrating from his perspective. The striker admitted he could not create the exchanges that typically allow his boxing to shine.
He also recognized that Makhachev’s ability to control hips and shoulders was more demanding than it appeared on video. The former champion had previously shown better scrambling ability against Belal Muhammad in an earlier bout.
Diaz’s return from rehab in Mexico has put him back in the MMA conversation. His blunt commentary on current fighters has generated attention across social media platforms.
The UFC legend has also revisited old rivalries, recently reposting a 2021 callout from current middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev on his Instagram story. Chimaev had challenged Diaz with a post that read “@nickdiaz209 surprise surprise I’m coming for you #209.”
Diaz was recently spotted at Xtreme Couture gym with Jake Shields, where he had a casual interaction with Sean Strickland. The former middleweight champion is scheduled to fight Anthony Hernandez in an upcoming UFC event.
