Jack Della Maddalena’s UFC 322 strategy questioned by former UFC champion

Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw has given his thoughts on Jack Della Maddalena‘s strategy for his UFC 322 main event against Islam Makhachev.

As we know, Islam Makhachev defeated – and somewhat dominated – Jack Della Maddalena to become the new UFC welterweight champion in the main event of UFC 322. While JDM was able to do some solid work in terms of his defensive strategy, he couldn’t really get anything going that was going to cause Islam serious problems.

Ever since the fight, Jack Della Maddalena has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism from mixed martial arts fans, pundits and fighters alike. While some have been more sympathetic, the general thought is that he simply didn’t do enough to come anywhere close to picking up a victory.

In a recent podcast, the aforementioned TJ Dillashaw weighed in on what he thinks went wrong for Jack Della Maddalena.

TJ Dillashaw questions Jack Della Maddalena

“Islam looks so strong. He made this fight look so easy,” Dillashaw said on the JAXXON PODCAST. “I did not expect it to be this easy.”

“When he’s not worried about the takedowns and comes out and strikes, you’re like, ‘Oh damn, it’s going to be a f*cking problem for Islam,'” Dillashaw said. “If he keeps doing this, watch how he’s throwing his hands here. He comes out, he’s aggressive. 

“He’s still shelled up a little bit, but he lets it go. Boom, boom, boom, put him on his backfoot. It’s hard to shoot when you’re going backwards all the time. Yes, you can time it and you can shoot in, but you also can get timed and get an uppercut or a knee down the middle as well, too. You’ve got to keep him going backwards.

“As soon as JDM started respecting the takedown too much and not coming forward is when Islam was able to hit (the double leg). Look, he sets up his double leg from this distance now. Like, JDM is giving him this distance, to where before, he was coming forward and throwing big hooks and keeping him on his backfoot and keeping his chin high and backing up. 

“That’s where he could have beat him. But as soon as he gives him his distance and lets him be comfortable, Islam dives in on those double legs – and they’re fast. Islam’s got good striking, but his biggest weapon in his striking is his threats of takedowns.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie