Jack Della Maddalena explains the ‘sad face’ from Islam Makhachev loss ahead of UFC Perth return

Jack Della Maddalena has opened up on the viral moment that followed his loss to Islam Makhachev, admitting the now widely shared “sad face” was simply disappointment after knowing he was not performing to his standard.

Speaking in Perth ahead of his return to headline UFC Fight Night at RAC Arena on May 2, Della Maddalena said there was no hidden meaning behind the expression that quickly became meme material after the Makhachev fight.

“It was just a bit of disappointment,” Della Maddalena said.

“Just not being able to do what I wanted to do, knowing I was having a poor performance. Just not good enough on my part. That was it. The poker face was not on that.”

The Perth product was direct when reflecting on the bout with Makhachev, refusing to offer excuses and instead crediting the Russian for being the better fighter on the night.

“No excuses. The better man won for sure that night,” he said.

Della Maddalena added that, in his view, the biggest issue was allowing himself to be controlled for long stretches and not taking enough initiative when opportunities presented themselves.

“What went wrong is getting stuck on my back for 25 minutes, but that’s alright,” he said.

“I think honestly it was a bit of laziness, a bit of opportunities I didn’t pounce on. I should have been more aggressive, not so defensively minded.”

Despite the scale of the defeat and the attention now surrounding his homecoming in Perth, Della Maddalena said he is not carrying any extra pressure into his next fight against Brazil’s Carlos Prates.

“Not really. It honestly feels like any other fight,” he said.

“Maybe when it gets close there’ll be more pressure, but at the moment I feel pretty calm, pretty cool.”

That response will likely please Australian fans, with Della Maddalena set to carry the main event spotlight in Perth as he looks to re-establish himself among the elite at welterweight.

He also made it clear that while the Makhachev loss still frustrates him, it has not shaken his belief.

Asked whether he still considers himself one of the best in the world, Della Maddalena said: “We’ll find out. I believe so. I believe so. But I think this May 2nd is going to show.”

The matchup with Prates shapes as an ideal comeback test. Della Maddalena described the bout as an exciting striking contest and backed his skillset to make the difference.

“He’s a fan favourite for good reason,” he said.

“I think it’s a good fight. Good striking battle against two of the top sort of contenders. So, I’m excited for the match. I feel like I’ve got the skills to beat him. I feel like I can outclass him.”

For Della Maddalena, the message was simple. The look that went viral after Makhachev was not a joke, a stunt or a sign of panic. It was frustration, honesty and the visible disappointment of a fighter who knew he had more to offer.

Now, in front of a home crowd in Perth, he gets the chance to show it.

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