STWF|Nov. 10, 2025 – Danny Roberts has seen firsthand what Jack Della Maddalena can do inside an octagon — and he’s not betting against him now.

In less than three years, the Australian welterweight has gone from a fast-rising prospect to the new face of the UFC’s 170-pound division, capturing gold with a stunning win over Belal Muhammad earlier this year at UFC 315.

Now, Della Maddalena faces his biggest test yet: a showdown with Islam Makhachev, the former lightweight king and pound-for-pound powerhouse, in the UFC 322 main event at Madison Square Garden this weekend. And while many see the Dagestani as an unstoppable force, Roberts — who shared the cage with Della Maddalena in 2022 — insists the Aussie has something special that sets him apart.

From Underdog to Champion

When Roberts fought Della Maddalena back in November 2022, few predicted the Perth native would be a world champion less than three years later. But his meteoric rise has been built on precision, poise, and elite fight IQ.

In May, he dismantled Belal Muhammad — one of the division’s most durable and disciplined fighters — over five rounds to claim the UFC welterweight championship. Della Maddalena outstruck Muhammad 200-86, stuffing every takedown attempt and showcasing a calmness under pressure that belied his youth and experience.

The victory not only earned him the belt but also the respect of the MMA world. Now, he’s tasked with defending it against Makhachev, a man widely considered among the most dominant fighters in mixed martial arts history.

Roberts: “Jack’s Just Different”

Roberts, who spent nearly a decade on the UFC roster, knows what makes great fighters tick — and believes Della Maddalena’s composure and adaptability will be key against Makhachev’s relentless wrestling.

“The weirdest thing about it is — listen, I look at Jack and I think he’s someone with really good striking, great takedown defense, all that stuff,” Roberts told talkSPORT.

“But when he rolled with me or got into tricky situations, he somehow managed to turn it around so it ended up working in his favour. I believe against Makhachev, he’s going to do exactly the same thing.”

Roberts admits Makhachev — 27-1 as a professional and on a 15-fight winning streak — is a “phenomenon,” but says Della Maddalena’s mental toughness and unorthodox rhythm will cause problems for the former lightweight champ.

“He’s going to prevail in every single facet of that fight. Honestly, I don’t see him getting into too much trouble,” Roberts said. “It’s strange to say, especially against Makhachev — because that guy’s an animal. But Jack’s Jack — and Jack’s just different.”

Makhachev’s Big Leap

After years of dominance at lightweight, Makhachev has set his sights on becoming a two-division champion. The Dagestani powerhouse, long mentored by Khabib Nurmagomedov, vacated his 155-pound title earlier this year to make the permanent move to welterweight.

Footage from his training camp shows him looking noticeably bulked up, adding muscle mass to handle bigger opponents. Makhachev himself described this camp as “the toughest of my career,” underscoring his determination to conquer another division.

But size alone won’t be enough to beat Della Maddalena — a fighter known for surgical precision, world-class boxing, and underrated grappling.

“He’s Special”

For Roberts, there’s no hesitation about where he stands on the matchup.

“I genuinely believe he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with,” Roberts said. “Before he even had that fight with Belal, I said, ‘Watch, he’s going to smoke Belal.’ After I saw what he did with Gilbert Burns at UFC 299, I was like, ‘That kid is actually special.’”

Having shared the cage with the champ, Roberts says his respect goes beyond analysis — it’s rooted in personal experience.

“I’ve been in there with him. I’ve been able to hear him breathing — he’s still close to me, and I can feel his shots,” Roberts recalled. “I knew that he’s going to be a special guy and he’s going to have a great future in the UFC.”

As UFC 322 approaches, the narrative is clear: Makhachev is chasing greatness; Della Maddalena is out to prove he’s already there.

For Roberts, the outcome may surprise many — but not him.

“People doubt him,” Roberts said. “But Jack’s not like the rest of them. He’s built different.”