How Jack Della Maddalena Defeats Islam Makhachev

This past weekend at UFC 315, a brand-new UFC welterweight champion was crowned.

Jack Della Maddalena defeated Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision in an incredible five-round war, which may be an early contender for the 2025 Fight of the Year. Although the UFC 315 main event wasn’t met with much hype and excitement from fight fans, the bout had huge implications for the future of the pound-for-pound best fighter in MMA right now, Islam Makhachev.

Just days prior to UFC 315, news broke that if Muhammad retained his welterweight title, Makhachev would remain at 155lbs and likely fight Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 and if Della Maddalena was to be crowned the new champion, the dominant Russian was going to move up to welterweight and immediately fight for the title. It now seems clear that Della Maddalena vs Makhachev is going to be next, and even though many people are backing the lightweight champion early, MMA expert Dan Hardy isn’t convinced that Makhachev will have a successful transition up to the welterweight division.

Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev’s professional MMA records (as of 12/05/25)
	Jack Della Maddalena	Islam Makhachev
Fights	20	28
Wins	18	27
Losses	2	1

2 of UFC’s Biggest Stars Are Completely Frustrated at How Fight Negotiations Are Going

Magomed Ankalaev & Tom Aspinall threaten to move on from Alex Pereira & Jon Jones UFC fights.

Dan Hardy Backs Jack Della Maddalena to Defeat Islam Makhachev

Hardy has questioned if Makhachev has the cardio to defeat Della Maddalena

Jack Della Maddalena’s victory at UFC 315 likely means that UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will make the move up to 170lbs and challenge for the welterweight title next.

Although Della Maddalena surprised a lot of MMA fans at UFC 315 with his excellent takedown defence and scrambles, a lot of fans and analysts are already favouring Makhachev to defeat the Australian, who is now on an 18-fight win streak.

Although most fans are backing the dominant Russian to win the welterweight title against Della Maddalena, MMA expert Dan Hardy believes that Makhachev will not defeat the Australian and has also questioned what he will look like as a welterweight.

Hardy said the following in an interview with Submission Radio:

“I don’t know if he’s (Jack Della Maddalena) going to hold the belt or if he’s going to lose it to one of the top contenders and then pick it back up again.”

“”I don’t think he’s going to lose it to Makhachev, though.”

He continued: “Della Maddalena looked very, very sharp against Belal, and I wonder what Makhachev would look like as a welterweight. Whether he would look as strong and as lean, or whether he’d look heavier and potentially gas himself out because he’d be stepping straight into a five-round fight.”

Although Makhachev is on a generational run right now and is cementing himself as one of the greatest fighters of all time, Hardy is right to question what he will look like at 170lbs as he does have a history of fading late on in fights. Also, as Hardy said, Makhachev is a strong and lean lightweight, but moving up to welterweight may take away some of those traits which may work against him.