Jack Della Maddalena’s strategy wasn’t bad in and of itself, but the way he carried it out against Makhachev at UFC 322 was terrible. His movement-based plan failed when early calf kicks made it hard for him to move, letting Makhachev dominate with wrestling for 19 of the 25 minutes.
Della Maddalena’s coach, Ben Vickers, supported the plan, but when things went wrong, he wasn’t able to make the necessary changes. The mismatch taught important lessons about how to prepare and how to use what you’ve learned against top grapplers.
A Look at Della Maddalena’s Strategy
Jack Della Maddalena came into UFC 322 with a great name and a great winning streak, but his plan to beat Islam Makhachev quickly fell apart when he was under a lot of pressure. Coach Ben Vickers claimed that the fight strategy wasn’t wrong, but badly carried out.
It was clear that the plan was based on movement and would keep Della Maddalena on his toes, where his hitting skills could shine.
But early calf kicks limited his movement, leaving him open to Makhachev’s constant attempts to take him down. It started rough in the first minute, but the winner quickly took control of the ground for 19 minutes.
The problems with performance weren’t just physical; after the first round, Della Maddalena looked mentally worn out. T.J. Dillashaw said that he respected Makhachev’s skills too much, which is why he stopped applying pressure that worked for a short time.
Playing Into Makhachev’s Strengths
Della Maddalena came into the fight with a reputation as a dangerous hitter, but the fight quickly showed that their styles were very different, which would become the main event of UFC 322.
Makhachev was much better at wrestling than Della Maddalena was at hitting, and he controlled him for almost 19 of the 25 minutes.
From the start, it looked like the Australians’ plan wasn’t working. He was trying to get some space, but he wasn’t taking into account Makhachev’s expert grappling changes. Early calf kicks made it harder for him to move, which limited his offensive choices even more.
What’s strange is how the corner is approaching. It didn’t change Maddalena’s strategies when Makhachev won the ground battles; instead, they focused on mental support. It shows a major weakness in fight IQ: not knowing when to change methods when facing a better wrestler.
Courage or Miscalculation?
At UFC 322, Jack Della Maddalena’s way of thinking brings up interesting questions about the line between bravery and bad strategy. It’s hard not to wonder if his team overestimated how well he could defend against a takedown against a wrestler as good as Makhachev.
When someone beats an individual for 19 out of 25 minutes, it’s not just a physical loss; it’s also a mental one. Corner advice that focused on emotional support rather than technical changes to speed up or slow down the fight didn’t seem to be relevant to what was actually happening. The problem wasn’t with the game plan, even coach Vickers admitted.
Alternative Strategies That Might Have Worked
Looking back at the UFC 322 fight, Della Maddalena could have used a number of different methods to deal with Makhachev’s constant pressure in the clinch.
Della Maddalena could have stopped focusing on movement and instead focused on clinch control along the fence to block Makhachev’s shooting options. Early calf kicks made it harder for him to move around, but hitting Makhachev’s lead leg before he did could have thrown off his balance and made it easier for him to get down.
Vickers said that the execution was wrong, not the plan. If they had been more aggressive in the first few minutes, they might have been able to take the lead before Makhachev found his flow. Feints to delay takedown attempts and uppercuts to counter as Makhachev changed levels could have given Della Maddalena the offensive opportunities she needed to stay in the game against such a strong wrestler.
Lessons for Future Competitors Going Up Against Elite Grapplers
The fight between Della Maddalena and Makhachev is a model for future welterweight challengers who want to fight top grapplers. The lesson isn’t that Della Maddalena’s game plan wasn’t good; it was that he couldn’t carry it out because early calf kicks made it hard for him to move.
When you’re up against strong grapplers, you have to commit to the way you move fully. Don’t let early damage throw off your plan; change quickly before the fight gets too bad to fix. People who want to run in the future should look at how quickly Makhachev used his limited movement to gain ground control.
The performance brings to light an important truth: when you’re wrestling top wrestlers, execution is more important than theory. Even if your plan looks good on paper, you’ll still fail if you don’t follow it perfectly. It’s still important to keep your distance and make grapplers work in awkward places, but only if you can do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Coach Vickers say in the corner while the rounds were going on?
Vickers focused on giving mental support instead of giving specific technical help. During the fight, he kept going by telling Maddalena to keep moving, even though the calf kicks were making it hard for him to move.
How did Maddalena’s performance change after he lost weight?
Ben Vickers said that they lost because they didn’t follow their game plan well, not because of his weight.
Has Makhachev ever lost to a fighter who mostly hits?
No, Makhachev hasn’t lost to a boxer who mostly uses strikes. He only lost once as a professional when he lost to Adriano Martins in 2015. Martins was a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who could also wrestle, not just attack.
After this loss, will Della Maddalena change where he trains?
He will likely stay with Coach Vickers even though they lost. Even though they need to have tough talks about how to execute, he doesn’t seem likely to leave his present training camp.