The UFC welterweight division just got a lot more interesting, and it’s not just because of the usual trash talk. Fans are looking at a rare situation where a champion from one division is moving up to challenge another champion. Islam Makhachev, who recently gave up his lightweight belt, is heading up to face Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title at UFC 322 in New York City this November. <\/p>
What makes this fight even more compelling is the backstory. Della Maddalena didn’t just stumble into the welterweight title. He took it from Belal Muhammad at UFC<\/a> 315, who happens to be Makhachev’s longtime teammate and training partner. Muhammad was known for his incredible durability and cardio, qualities that made him a nightmare for opponents who couldn’t put him away. But Della Maddalena not only beat him, he out worked him in the later rounds, which is saying something considering Muhammad’s reputation for having some of the best conditioning in the sport.<\/p> Ben Vickers, who coaches Della Maddalena, recently dropped a bombshell that has fight fans buzzing. He straight up said that Makhachev doesn’t have the same chin that Muhammad possessed. That’s a pretty bold statement when you’re talking about a guy who has only been knocked out once in his entire career. Makhachev’s lone knockout loss happened way back in October 2015, which feels like a lifetime ago in fight years.<\/p> “I just don’t think Islam has the chin that Belal has. We know for a fact that if Jack clips someone clean on the chin, they can go over. So it could happen in the first minute, it could happen in the 24th minute, it could happen three rounds in. Jack likes long fights. He likes to be in there, but obviously we’re not getting paid for overtime,”<\/em><\/strong> said Vickers via Submission Radio.<\/p>Jack Della Maddalena’s Coach Believes A KO Is Inevitable<\/h2>