Coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov agree: Jack Della Maddalena toughest test for Islam Makhachev
Former 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) will look to claim a second UFC belt when he challenges welterweight champion Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) later in the year.
Nurmagomedov called Della Maddalena Makhachev's toughest fight – even over lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, and their head coach Mendez agrees.
"I'm going to have to one million percent agree with Khabib, I think this is our toughest test," Mendez told MMA Junkie. "This is my and Khabib's biggest responsibility to make sure we get Islam in tip-top shape and ready to do what we think and what we believe he will do, and that's win, but it's not going to be easy.
"If we make it look easy, it's because we were properly prepared, and Jack just happened to give us what we needed, but this is by no means a walkover fight. This is a really tough fight, and we have immense respect for Jack and their team and what they can do."
So what makes Della Maddalena such a threat?
"I think what makes JDM so dangerous No. 1 is he's unbeaten for quite a while," Mendez said. "He's had quite a long win streak, and the fact that this guy mixes it up extremely well. He goes to the body, to the head, and he doesn't just stick to head hunting. He mixes it all up. He goes body, punch, then also the kick comes.
"With him, his takedown defense is really, really good also. So, we are not in a situation where we can think we're going to go to the ground. No, we got to see what he's going to give us, and probably we're going to have to make him give us something because I don't know if he's going to. He's really that good."
Mendez assures that unlike Belal Muhammad, who opted to mainly stand and strike with Della Maddalena in his UFC 315 title loss, Makhachev won't divert from the game plan.
"When I looked at Belal, he stuck primarily to one thing, was more the standup," Mendez told MMA Junkie. "With Islam, I've always told everybody, we can switch up second for second, minute for minute, round for round. Whatever Khabib and I, and the other coaches need to do, we will do and Islam will follow our instructions. He always has. If there's one thing I can say about Islam is whatever I say, Khabib says, we're on the same track, we're not on the same track, he listens to us."
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