Dana White Breaks Up Intense Staredown Between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev Ahead of UFC 322:

UFC President Dana White had to step in to separate welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena and lightweight great Islam Makhachev during a tense face-off ahead of their highly anticipated clash this Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The two fighters stood nose-to-nose after Thursday’s press conference in New York, refusing to break eye contact until White intervened. The staredown set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling showdown at UFC 322, with Della Maddalena defending his title for the first time. Della Maddalena, 29, claimed the welterweight belt in May after defeating Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision. The Australian star is currently undefeated in the UFC, riding an 18-fight winning streak overall. His opponent, Makhachev, 34, vacated his lightweight championship to move up in weight and is regarded as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite. The Dagestani fighter has won 15 consecutive bouts and boasts a 27-1 professional record. Despite receiving boos from the New York crowd, Della Maddalena remained composed and confident. “This is what I got in this sport for – big challenges, big moments. I’m excited for the challenge and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. The defending champion also vowed to bring the title home to Australia, emphasizing the country’s growing presence in MMA. “Australia is very competitive, it has a fighting culture, and that’s why we’re doing so well. We have two champions, and after this weekend, we will still have two champions,” he added. Makhachev, meanwhile, is aiming to achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a two-division champion. “I’m very close to my dream. All my professional career when I was lightweight champion, it’s my dream to become a double champion. Two more days,” he said. Speaking about his history with Australian fighters, Makhachev claimed he would go 4-0 against them, though his only confirmed Australian opponent to date is Alexander Volkanovski, whom he has beaten twice. Stylistically, the fight presents an intriguing clash. Della Maddalena is known for his elite boxing, while Makhachev’s ground game and grappling are among the best in the sport. The two fighters exchanged playful confidence in the media session, with Makhachev acknowledging Della Maddalena as “one of the best” strikers but claiming he could hold his own. Della Maddalena, in turn, expressed confidence in his ability to defend takedowns throughout the fight, citing his previous success against Muhammad. As UFC 322 approaches, fans are eagerly anticipating a battle that could shake up the pound-for-pound rankings. The clash between Della Maddalena and Makhachev is more than a title fight—it is a showdown of contrasting styles, international pride, and championship aspirations.

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