I'm coming for your scalp, says new Aussie UFC champ

West Australian

22-05-2025

He endured months of agony and uncertainty to get to the top, now Australia's new UFC champion Jack Della Maddalena wants to go bounty hunting.
Della Maddalena became just the third Australian to win a UFC crown when he defeated Belal Muhammad in a welterweight title showdown in Montreal earlier this month.
Making the feat all the more remarkable is the fact Della Maddalena was fighting for the first time since suffering a career-threatening broken arm 14 months earlier.
The 28-year-old West Australian ended up needing four rounds of surgery due to a series of infections, and there were even fears at one point he may lose his arm.
Once the infections cleared, Della Maddalena was able to get down to business and his intense training program paid dividends with a unanimous decision victory over Muhammad.
The next fight on Della Maddalena's agenda is almost certain to be against the current pound-for-pound champion Islam Makhachev, who has vacated his lightweight crown in order to have a crack at welterweight glory.
Della Maddalena isn't planning on giving up the belt he's worked so hard to get.
"The belt's special. Every time I look at it, I'm very proud," Della Maddalena told AAP after returning to Perth this week.
"But I didn't do it for the belt. I like the challenge, I like fighting.
"The fight itself is what I live for. Every fighter presents different challenges.
"I also do it for the record, for the names on my resume."
Della Maddalena's current list of 'scalps' features the likes of Muhammad, Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland and Bassil Hafez among his perfect 8-0 UFC record.
So what does he think about it?
"So far so good, but I think I've got some work to do," Della Maddalena said.
"I guess the real work begins now.
"Islam is going to be another great name on the list, and then I can start ticking off the next challenge."
Della Maddalena initially hoped he could defend his welterweight title against Makhachev in Perth.
Those hopes have since been shot down, given the event in Perth later this year is merely a fight night rather than a blockbuster event.
With Perth off the cards, Della Maddalena's next choice is to hold it at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York.
"Perth would be awesome, I just don't think it's happening," Della Maddalena said.
"They have the event here in Perth in September, but the UFC are strong on their guns that it's just going to be a fight night event.
"And they've got a rule - they don't put champions on fight night events.
"So the next place - I think Madison Square Garden would be pretty cool.
"There's been the Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier at the venue, there's been big basketball matches with some of the greats. It's such an incredible city."