STWF Sports|Nov. 18, 2025 – Jack Della Maddalena walked into UFC 322 as the reigning welterweight champion and one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars. He walked out without the belt, without momentum, and with a newfound appreciation for just how ruthless the UFC’s matchmaking can be. And few people understood that feeling more than former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, who says he genuinely feels bad for the Australian standout.
Della Maddalena was dominated by Islam Makhachev in New York, as the former lightweight king moved up to 170 pounds and delivered a clinic in control, pressure, and championship composure. In the process, Makhachev became the new welterweight champion and the No. 1 pound-for-pound male fighter, joining an exclusive club of fighters who have captured UFC titles in two different divisions.
O’Malley, watching the fight closely, sympathized deeply with Della Maddalena — because he knows what it’s like to be matched against elite killers. But he also knows what it’s like to avoid them.
O’Malley: “Poor JDM… the first title defense is Islam?”
Speaking on his YouTube channel, O’Malley broke down the fight from a former champion’s perspective.
“That was a very high-level fight,” O’Malley said. “Islam moving up from 155 to 170, fighting JDM, the champ. Poor Della Maddalena — he gets the belt, wins the belt, and the first title defense is Islam.”
The former bantamweight champ made it clear: he believes he was fortunate to avoid such a gauntlet early in his reign.
“Fortunate for me, I won the belt, and they gave me Chito [Vera],” O’Malley continued. “We’ve got the game wrapped up on our finger there.”
It wasn’t arrogance — it was honesty. O’Malley has admitted before that seeing Merab Dvalishvili across from him early in his championship run would have been a nightmare. Merab, of course, eventually dethroned him at UFC 306 inside The Sphere, and then beat him again in their June rematch.
Della Maddalena, in contrast, never got the luxury of easing into his reign. Instead, he immediately faced a generational talent.
A Tough Loss, but an Impressive Survival
Despite going five rounds with one of the most suffocating fighters in UFC history, Della Maddalena emerged without major damage — something O’Malley pointed out with respect.
“It’s crazy how much damage he didn’t take and how good of a job he did not getting submitted,” O’Malley said. “It sucks… but that was very impressive for him not to get submitted.”
Makhachev controlled the clinch, dictated pace, and shut down nearly every avenue for Della Maddalena’s slick boxing to come alive. Still, the Australian showed grit and defensive awareness throughout the championship rounds.
Della Maddalena Looks to Rebuild After Losing His Throne
Della Maddalena became welterweight champion in May by dethroning Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. But his reign, like many in the division, was brief — and brutal.
Now 29 years old, the Perth native finds himself at a crossroads. He’s no longer champion but remains firmly among the welterweight elite. The loss to Makhachev is a setback, not a death sentence — something his head coach, Ben Vickers, emphasized in an emotional message posted online.
“I am more proud of Jack and the team today than ever before,” Vickers wrote. “True, we didn’t get the marbles, but we dared to dream and took our shot… It hurts, but we aren’t defined by this sport.”
Vickers praised Della Maddalena’s toughness, humility, and the community behind him at Scrappy MMA in Perth.
“This is the beginning, not the end,” he said.
The Road Back Begins Now
Jack Della Maddalena stepped into the cage against the pound-for-pound best — and survived five rounds. Few fighters can say the same. As the division shifts around new champion Islam Makhachev, the Australian will regroup, rebuild, and very likely return to the title picture soon.
And as Sean O’Malley made clear, he’s earned respect — even in defeat.
