Latest news with #JackDellaMaddalena
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
UFC heads back to Perth with 'Fight Night' debut this September
The UFC has announced its return to Perth, Australia, on September 28, 2025, for a Fight Night event. This marks Perth's fourth time hosting a UFC event, but its first Fight Night, raising anticipation due to Australia's strong MMA scene. Homegrown champions like Alexander Volkanovski and Jack Della Maddalena add to the excitement. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The UFC officially confirmed on Monday that it will return to Perth , Western Australia, with UFC Fight Night set for Sunday, September 28, 2025. This marks the fourth time Perth will host a UFC event, but notably, it will be the city's first-ever Fight Night card, as all previous events were pay-per-view previously hosted UFC 221 in February 2018, UFC 284 in February 2023, and UFC 305 in August 2024. While no matchups have been announced yet, anticipation is high given Australia's strong MMA presence, including homegrown champions Alexander Volkanovski (featherweight) and Jack Della Maddalena (welterweight).Since the Perth event is a Fight Night and not a pay-per-view, the chances of Jack Della Maddalena defending his welterweight title against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev there are virtually Perth event takes place just a month before the UFC's annual marquee pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, increasing the likelihood that Jack and Islam could appear in Perth - if not to fight, then at least to help promote a potential showdown in Abu Dhabi.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC announces return to Perth
The UFC is headed back to Perth, Western Australia. For the first time, Perth will host a UFC Fight Night rather than a pay-per-view. The event takes place Sept. 27 (Sept. 28 locally) at RAC Arena. The card will be the fourth the city has hosted in UFC history. The other three were UFC 221 (February 2018), UFC 284 (February 2023) and UFC 305 (August 2024). The promotion announced the event officially Monday, though no bouts were revealed. The Oceanic region is home to numerous UFC fighters, including featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena. With a title unlikely to be on the line, ranked fighters from the region who do not have a fight on the books who could headline the event include Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker, and Kai Kara-France.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stephen Thompson explains being against Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev next
Stephen Thompson doesn't think Jack Della Maddalena should face Islam Makhachev for his first UFC welterweight title defense. Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) dethroned Belal Muhammad to claim the belt at UFC 315 in May. That immediately set up his first title defense against Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), who relinquished his lightweight title for a move up to 170 pounds. Advertisement Thompson's issue isn't so much about Makhachev. It's more about Della Maddalena, whom he says should be granting the opportunity to top contenders first after having just won the belt. "First off, I've got to say, if I was Shavkat Rakhmonov or Ian Garry, or somebody that is right there who's worked really hard to get there, I'd be pretty pissed," Thompson told MMA Junkie. "Because this guy JDM just got the title and then he's giving somebody else a shot at what I've earned the right to have, which is a title shot. Like, give JDM one or two more guys. If he beats them, then give him somebody outside the division. But I would be kind of pissed. I'd be kind of upset that they're giving this guy immediately somebody from the 155-pound division." That being said, former title challenger Thompson sees Della Maddalena being a stern test for Makhachev. "Now, I think it's a very tough fight for Islam Makhachev," Thompson said. "Bigger guy, somebody who won the title from somebody with a similar style in Belal Muhammad. I do believe Islam Makhachev's striking is a lot better than Belal Muhammad's, but their pressure, their cardio, their wrestling background, fairly similar. Obviously, I think one would be better than the other, but he's faced somebody exactly like him. So, I think it would be a tough fight for Islam for sure." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC welterweight questions Jack Della Maddalena's first title defense
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paddy Pimblett Breaks Down Bold Career Plan Amid Ilia Topuria Saga
Paddy Pimblett Breaks Down Bold Career Plan Amid Ilia Topuria Saga originally appeared on Athlon Sports. UFC fighter and MMA artist Paddy Pimblett has never lacked confidence, and now the Liverpool native is eyeing a future that extends beyond the Octagon. Advertisement Before that, though, he wants to make history by beating the reigning champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Ilia Topuria, as well as holding another belt. Pimblett, currently ranked No. 10 in the UFC lightweight division, has hinted at a two-step plan for the short-term future: dethrone Topuria, then jump to welterweight—with Jack Della Maddalena as the current champion—to chase a second belt. 'When I win (the lightweight) belt, then go up and win another belt,' Pimblett said on the July 1 episode of "The Chattin' Pony Podcast" with Brian Ortega. 'There's a few fights there at 170 that do interest me… 'But for now, I'm just focused on winning the lightweight belt.' Advertisement UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria confronts contender Paddy Bottari-GettyImages Pimblett's projected run would start with a fight against Topuria, the undefeated lightweight champion, who recently knocked out Charles Oliveira. Topuria and Pimblett have had a long-standing rivalry, with Pimblett claiming Topuria's 'kryptonite' and predicting he'd finish the champion inside the distance. The 30-year-old lightweight has drawn attention for his in-camp discipline and out-of-camp weight swings, famously jumping from 156 lbs to 198 lbs in just weeks earlier this year. Should Pimblett pull off the two-belt run, he hinted at another massive career move—retirement from MMA and a pivot to acting. Advertisement 'That's exactly what I want to do when I retire. Get into a bit of acting,' Pimblett said on the aforementioned podcast. For now, and unless Topuria offers Pimblett the opportunity of fighting against him for the title on the line, Pimblett will need to earn a shot at the belt by climbing up the lightweight ladder from his current No. 10 spot in the leaderboard. Related: Paddy Pimblett Reveals Huge Milkshake-Fueled Weight Gain After UFC 314 Related: Jon Jones' Major Retirement Decision Sparks Confusion This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dustin Poirier: First two rounds tell us how Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev goes
Dustin Poirier gave insight on Islam Makhachev's UFC welterweight debut. Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) vacated his UFC lightweight title for a move up to 170 pounds, and is expected to challenge welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) at the end of the year. Advertisement Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) was submitted by Makhachev at UFC 302 last June. A heavy handed and technical boxer like Della Maddalena, "The Diamond" explained how the Aussie's approach will impact how the fight goes. "I think we'll find out in the first or second round how much trouble (Makhachev) has getting (Della Maddalena) down," Poirier told MMA Junkie. "I think if he gets those takedowns, he's going to get the win. If Jack can stop those takedowns – he does have good takedown defense - I think the boxing and the size could wear on Islam and give him some problems. But Islam's striking is awkward and different. You have to worry so much about the takedown. "You can't plant your feet and throw off those number combinations and really rip and sit on your punches because he's going to change levels, so it changes the way you fight. For me, it did. I'm speaking from experience. We'll see how Jack approaches and how Jack executes out there, but if you're worried about takedowns, your shots are different. You're not sitting on everything and standing in front of the guy, you're trying to move and be light on your feet. I think the first two rounds will tell us how the fight is going to go." Della Maddalena was able to fend off Belal Muhammad's grappling and outstrike him en route to a unanimous decision win to claim the welterweight title at UFC 315. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dustin Poirier breaks down Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev
