May 10, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Jack Della Maddalena (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Belal Muhammad (not pictured) for the Welterweight Title during UFC 315 at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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Laura Sanko Believes Jack Della Maddalena Will Have The ‘Anti- Dagestani’ Formula Down After Her Training With Craig Jones

Jack Della Maddalena has the key to Dagestani wrestling as per Laura Sanko who recently trained with his coach!

Jack Della Maddalena shocked the MMA world when he upset Belal Muhammad to win the welterweight title at UFC 315. Nobody saw it coming, especially not the oddsmakers who had him as an underdog. The Australian striker had always been known for his crisp boxing and finishing ability. But his wrestling defense was always the big question mark hanging over his head. Every time he faced a strong grappler, fans held their breath wondering if this would be the night someone took him down and kept him there. Those doubts seemed justified given how dominant wrestlers have been in the UFC lately.

Now Della Maddalena faces his biggest test yet as Islam Makhachev moves up from lightweight to challenge for his newly won welterweight crown. Makhachev isn’t just any wrestler. He’s the guy who made the entire lightweight division look helpless with his grappling skills. His pressure and control have made him nearly impossible to deal with once he gets his hands on the opponent. Many believe this fight will be the ultimate test of whether Della Maddalena’s recent improvements are real or just a lucky night against Muhammad.

Laura Sanko Believes Craig Jones Holds The Secret Formula

UFC commentator Laura Sanko thinks she knows exactly why Della Maddalena looked so much better in his title-winning performance. The answer lies with his new grappling coach, Craig Jones, who has been working behind the scenes to solve the Dagestani wrestling puzzle. Jones has become something of a specialist in preparing fighters for wrestlers from that region. His track record speaks for itself, having previously helped Alexander Volkanovski prepare for his battles with Makhachev.

Sanko got a rare behind the scenes look at what Jones was teaching Della Maddalena during their training camp. She was curious about the specific techniques they were working on, so she asked Jones to show her some of the game plan. What she saw clearly impressed her, especially when those exact techniques played out perfectly during the actual fight.

“It was really fun and he showed me a handful of things that he was working on with Jack because I asked him. I was like, ‘I’m not going to tell anybody. I’m not calling the fight so can you show me?’ And he did and man, every single one of them played out in the fight so I’m definitely on board with the idea that Craig Jones is the key, the anti-Dagestani wrestling key.”

The Australian jiu-jitsu expert has developed what many are calling the “anti-Dagestani” formula. This isn’t about disrespecting the incredible skills of fighters from that region, but rather finding technical solutions to their dominant wrestling approach. Jones has studied their patterns, their setups, and their favorite positions. He has figured out the counters and escapes that can neutralize their biggest weapons. Sanko is convinced that this partnership could be the key to solving what many thought was an unsolvable problem!

(Image Credit: Eric Bolte – Imagn Images)

Craig Jones

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

Laura Sanko

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!