Jack Della’s Tough Loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322: A Setback, Not a Stopping Point

UFC 322 delivered one of the most anticipated matchups in recent Australian MMA history. Jack Della Maddalena walked into the Octagon as the UFC welterweight champion, carrying the hopes of an entire nation. Across from him stood Islam Makhachev, already a lightweight legend and one of the most dominant grapplers the UFC has ever seen. It was a high-stakes superfight that promised answers about the future of two divisions.

What we got instead was a reminder that greatness is rarely linear.

A Long Night on the Ground

Jack Della is known for crisp boxing, world-class timing and the type of pressure that melts opponents. But against Makhachev, he ran into a style that neutralised almost everything he does best.

Makhachev’s suffocating grappling kept Della grounded for 18 of the 35 minutes, preventing him from generating any real momentum on the feet. Jack managed 31 significant strikes, but most came in brief windows before he was taken down again and forced to defend.

It wasn’t that Della lacked heart. It wasn’t that he lacked skill. He simply couldn’t build a platform to launch the game that made him champion. And sometimes, in elite MMA, that’s enough to decide the night.

Compromised or Just Out-Grappled?

Many fans noticed that Jack didn’t look like his usual self. Whether it was the pressure of the moment, a physical setback or the sheer stylistic puzzle Makhachev presents, he looked a step behind. Even when he did create space, he struggled to get back to his feet or reset the fight.

But nothing about this performance suggests decline. If anything, it highlights how high the level is at the very top of the sport. Losing to Islam Makhachev is not a stain on a career. It’s a challenge that has humbled world champions before.

Experience Gap: A Tale of Two Eras

It’s worth remembering one important detail: Jack Della hadn’t even begun his MMA journey when Islam Makhachev was already fighting in the UFC.

This wasn’t a matchup of equals in terms of experience. This was one of the most seasoned fighters in the world against a champion who is still entering his prime. Jack is part of the new wave, the generation after Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker. His ceiling is still rising.

And that’s why this loss doesn’t feel final. It feels like chapter one.

Why Jack Della Will Be Back

Even in defeat, there’s something about Jack Della that suggests this is only a speed bump.

• He’s young enough to evolve rapidly.
• He has the mindset to learn, not crumble.
• He has the striking foundation to beat anyone in the division.
• And he now has the experience of facing one of the most dominant champions the UFC has ever produced.

Australia got behind him at UFC 322 because he represents the next era of Aussie MMA. Volk and Whittaker built the platform. Jack Della Maddalena is positioned to carry it forward.

This loss may slow the momentum, but it won’t stop the trajectory.

The Road Ahead

Welterweight is still Jack’s kingdom to reclaim. The division is wide open, full of entertaining matchups and potential contenders who fit Jack’s style far better than a lightweight grappling phenom moving up for a superfight.

Whether it takes one fight or three, Jack has everything he needs to return to the top.

And when he does, this loss to Makhachev might be the moment that sharpened him into something even more dangerous.

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