Islam Makhachev is gearing up for a significant opportunity to become a two-division UFC champion in his upcoming fight against welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena. A former fighter associated with the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), Andrew Sanchez, shared his perspective on Makhachev’s approach and chances in this matchup, emphasizing Makhachev’s dominant wrestling skills.
Sanchez, who has trained at top MMA gyms and has experience working alongside fighters from AKA, including Russian athletes like Makhachev, spoke ahead of his own PFL fight on August 21 against Impa Kasanganay. Referencing Makhachev’s wrestling ability in the context of the upcoming bout with Della Maddalena, Sanchez stated,
“I trained at AKA. I trained around the Russians, but they’re very kind of like; they have their own group, their own clique. I wasn’t really in with them in that way. I mean, I think he’s [Islam Makhachev’s] an incredible fighter. Yeah, incredible wrestler. I couldn’t imagine [Jack Della] Maddalena stopping his offensive wrestling to be honest.” —Andrew Sanchez, Former AKA Fighter
This quote highlights Sanchez’s belief that Makhachev’s wrestling presents a formidable challenge, likely making it difficult for Della Maddalena to neutralize Makhachev’s dominant grappling style.
Concerns About Makhachev’s Ability to Absorb Maddalena’s Power
Despite the confidence in Islam Makhachev’s wrestling, questions remain about whether he can handle the power of Jack Della Maddalena, especially since Makhachev will be moving up a weight class to welterweight. These concerns were voiced by former UFC title challenger and MMA analyst Kenny Florian during a May episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast.
Florian, who has competed in four UFC weight divisions, has extensive experience assessing fighters’ adaptability across weights. He reflected on Maddalena’s recent performance at UFC 315 in Montreal, where the welterweight champion secured the belt by defeating Belal Muhammad.
Florian expressed admiration for Muhammad’s resilience, calling his ability to absorb powerful strikes “legendary,” and noted that it’s difficult to imagine any lightweight or featherweight competitor withstanding the kind of offense Maddalena delivers. This raises uncertainties about how Makhachev will cope with the strength and power differential at 170 pounds, despite his wrestling prowess.
Implications for the Upcoming Title Match
The upcoming contest between Makhachev and Della Maddalena stands as a classic clash of wrestling mastery versus striking power. Makhachev’s dominant grappling is widely respected and expected to control much of the fight, as Sanchez suggested. However, the question lingering among analysts and fans is whether Makhachev’s defense and toughness will be sufficient to counter Maddalena’s heavy-handed striking.
Should Makhachev succeed in overcoming the power challenge, he will make history as a two-division UFC champion, cementing his place among the sport’s elite. On the other hand, a win by Maddalena would solidify his status as a dominant force in the welterweight division and underline the difficulty of moving up successfully in weight class.
The fight’s outcome will thus have meaningful repercussions for both fighters’ legacies and could influence future title bids for competitors navigating weight class shifts.