It’s not often that Israel Adesanya picks a side before a fight even begins, but something about Jack Della Maddalena‘s rise to power has piqued his interest. The Australian has dominated the welterweight division, and now, just months after upsetting Belal Muhammad to win the title, he faces Islam Makhachev, the lightweight king turned welterweight challenger, in one of the year’s hottest fights.

For many, this bout represents the ultimate clash of styles: Makhachev’s crushing grappling versus Maddalena’s brutal boxing. ‘Izzy,’ however, sees it as more than that. In a recent interview with the champion on his YouTube channel, the former middleweight king warned that Maddalena possesses a unique technique that might drastically change the rhythm of the fight, potentially turning the expected ground war into something else entirely.

Israel Adesanya reveals Jack Della Maddalena’s biggest threat to Islam Makhachev

During their talk, Israel Adesanya focused on an aspect of Maddalena’s game that few had noticed: his refusal to stay grounded. “I don’t think he can keep you down,” Adesanya said. “Even if you hit the ground, it’s like you have this… urgency. The floor is lava. You don’t rest there.” He praised Maddalena’s butterfly guard and constant movement, suggesting that even if Makhachev scores an early takedown, controlling him for long would be another story entirely.

‘The Last Stylebender’ also lit up when talking about the possible stand-up exchanges between the two. “On the feet, I might be biased, but I love them things—these things,” Adesanya further added in the interview, raising his fists. “Throw some leg kicks, but for me, it’s the body shot. When you stalk people, when you get to mid-range and you’re not scared to get hit—that’s when you’re dangerous.”

His words provided a clear image of Jack Della Maddalena’s composure and timing, qualities that may frustrate a pressure fighter like Islam Makhachev. It is worth noting that Israel Adesanya predicted a few months ago that Maddalena would knock Makhachev out, and it seems like his belief has not changed. “He’s just so stoic,” he said back in June. “He focuses on his own game, and when he does that, I really think he’s gonna get him.”

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While Adesanya believes Maddalena’s escape instincts and boxing are the keys, the Dagestani camp understands what’s at stake. Even Khabib Nurmagomedov acknowledged the threat, describing JDM as “the toughest opponent of Islam’s career.” The respect between camps only heightens the stakes. But for now, UFC 322 is more than a test of skill; it’s a study in contrasts: control versus chaos, pressure versus poise, and if Israel Adesanya’s instincts are right, the champion may have already found his hidden edge.

Jack Della Maddalena sends out a cold warning ahead of UFC 322

If Israel Adesanya’s analysis hinted at an unseen weapon, Jack Della Maddalena himself has now confirmed it. The welterweight king, calm as ever, does not promise fireworks or theatrics. Instead, he’s offering a surprise. While some regard Islam Makhachev‘s grappling as an inevitable nightmare, Jack Della Maddalena sees an opportunity to expose the Dagestani phenom’s flaws.

For him, getting on the ground is not the end of the fight; instead, it’s exactly where the fun begins. In an interview with Fox Sports Australia, the champion stated his objectives clearly. “In his mind, he’ll be thinking, ‘Take me down, hold me down, and submit me,’” Maddalena said. “So I think in the grappling, I will be able to surprise him.” There was no arrogance in his voice, only precision, the kind that comes from preparation.

His training with jiu-jitsu master Craig Jones has quietly changed his defensive arsenal, giving him the ability to withstand, reverse, and return fire from any position. “The right techniques for his A-game will throw him off a bit,” he added, suggesting a strategy designed not just to counter the former lightweight kingpin’s talents but to use them against him.

To stir the hype pot even further, Maddalena ended the interview with a prediction that seemed less like a boast and more like a statement of fact: “I believe we will spend a lot of this fight on the feet.” For Islam Makhachev, this is a warning. For everyone else, it’s a promise that the welterweight champion would defend his title on his own terms and in his world.