Preparing for a championship fight requires every advantage a fighter can possibly get. Smart fighters don’t just train harder; they train smarter by bringing in the right people. When a fighter is facing someone as dangerous as Islam Makhachev, they need training partners who truly understand what you’re up against. That means finding someone who’s actually been in the cage with your opponent before. Jack Della Maddalena is doing exactly that for his upcoming UFC 322 welterweight title defense against Islam Makhachev.
The Australian champion has assembled what his team calls a “Dream Team” for this massive challenge. Makhachev is a massive challenge for the Australian and he knows he needs all the help he can get. And who better to train with for this fight than Makhachev’s former opponent!
Alexander Volkanovski and Craig Jones both joined JDM’s camp ahead of his fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 322. Volkanovski surprised the crew by showing up at Scrappy MMA in Perth on Monday morning, ready to work. The former two-time featherweight champion and pound-for-pound king fought Makhachev twice back in 2023, giving him insider knowledge about the Dagestani’s game that few possess.
Those two fights against Makhachev (27-1) weren’t easy tune-ups or exhibitions. Volkanovski moved up in weight both times to challenge for lightweight gold. He almost pulled off a massive upset in their first encounter, making it a competitive decision loss. The second fight came on just 11 days’ notice, which ended in a knockout defeat. But those battles taught Volk exactly what makes Makhachev so dangerous and where vulnerabilities might exist.
Craig Jones represents another massive weapon in Della Maddalena’s arsenal for this fight. Widely considered among the best grapplers on the planet, Jones will remain part of the camp all the way through fight night. This matters because Makhachev’s grappling prowess is legendary, and Jones provides the perfect training scenario.
Coach Vickers pointed out that Jack continuously grapples someone bigger, stronger, and technically better at pure grappling than Islam is. Jones was also part of Team Volkanovski for both 2023 fights against Islam, so he understands the game plan requirements intimately. That experience proves invaluable during camp preparation. Despite being a significant underdog, Jack Della Maddalena now has two absolute legends helping him chase history at UFC 322!
(Image Credit: Eric Bolte – Imagn Images)
mma 
