Feb 12, 2023; Perth, WA, AUSTRALIA; Jack Della Maddalena (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Randy Brown (not pictured) during UFC 284 at RAC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

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“Just A Midget” – Team Jack Della Maddalena Sends A Warning To Ilia Topuria About His Welterweight Ambitions

Moving up weight classes in MMA is like playing with fire. Former champions who tried to chase glory in heavier divisions only to find themselves outgunned and outsized are the proof of it. Ilia Topuria has already made one successful jump from featherweight to lightweight, capturing the 155-pound title in spectacular fashion.

But now ‘El Matador’ has his eyes on an even bigger prize at welterweight. The Georgian-Spanish fighter wants to become the first three division champion in UFC history, and he’s not shy about his ambitions. His plan involves challenging for the welterweight title shortly. However, there’s one major roadblock in Topuria’s path: current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena. Team Della Maddalena isn’t impressed with Topuria’s welterweight dreams, and they’re not keeping quiet about it.

Ben Vickers Doesn’t Think Ilia Topuria Is A Threat

The Australian’s head coach Ben Vickers recently fired some verbal shots at the lightweight champion, calling him a “midget” who should stay in his own division. The size difference between these two fighters tells a compelling story about why weight classes exist in the first place. Topuria started his career fighting as low as bantamweight before settling at featherweight and then moving up to lightweight. Each jump has required him to face bigger, stronger opponents, and another move to welterweight would push that challenge to its absolute limit.

Vickers didn’t hold back when discussing Topuria’s potential welterweight move during his recent appearance on Submission Radio. His comments were blunt and designed to send a clear message to the lightweight champion.

“He’s my height, and I’m a midget, He needs to stay where he is. It will be a very bad decision for him to come up and fight Jack. They’re the same fighter, essentially, he’s just a midget and Jack’s a bit bigger. They do a lot of the same things very well, and I love Ilia. He’s one of my favorite fighters to watch because I think he fights like Jack.”

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The coach believes Topuria would be making a serious mistake by jumping two weight classes to face his fighter. According to Vickers, both men have similar fighting styles, but the size difference would be the deciding factor in any potential matchup.

Jack Della Maddalena vs Ilia Topuria’s First 15 Opponents Record

When fans look at the opposition both fighters have faced, some interesting patterns emerge that support the size argument. Ilia Topuria’s first 15 opponents had a combined record of 130-23. This shows that he has consistently faced high level competition throughout his career. Meanwhile, Jack Della Maddalena’s first 15 opponents posted a record of 84-21. This indicates slightly less experienced opposition but still quality fighters.

The size will play a big factor here. For reference, Topuria is 5’7 and the mainstay of his journey was at 145 lbs. Meanwhile Della Maddalena is 5’11 and cuts weight to 170 lbs. Topuria began his professional career fighting at bantamweight, where he weighed around 135 pounds on fight night. His move to featherweight added about 10 pounds. The jump to lightweight meant another 10 pound increase, and now he’s considering welterweight where he would need to carry even more mass. Each move up requires not just additional weight but the strength and power that comes with fighting naturally bigger men.

Della Maddalena has been a natural welterweight throughout most of his career. This has given him years to develop the frame and power needed for that division. The Australian champion walks around much heavier than Topuria and has the reach advantages that come with his larger frame. This isn’t just about cutting weight or bulking up. It’s about fundamental body structure and how it translates to fighting effectiveness at the highest level.

(Image Credit: Jasmin Frank – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Jack Della Maddalena

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!