Jack Della Maddalena (red gloves) fights Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) in the welterweight championship bout during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 15, 2025. — Reuters
Jack Della Maddalena pictures a “dream” rematch against UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Maddalena lost his welterweight title to Islam, who dominated him in his first title defence during a unanimous decision victory at UFC 322, becoming the two-division champion on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
However, Maddalena now wants to get back in the Octagon, and during a stream with N3on, he was asked if Shavkat Rakhmonov would be a good opponent for him.
To which he said: “That’s the fight.”
Rakhmonov defeated Ian Machado Garry in 2024 and has not fought since then due to a serious accident in 2025.
The Australian also praised Makhachev and highlighted one major issue with their fight.
“His top position’s good, he’s good to hold people down and pin them, and I got stuck there,” Maddalena said.
Maddalena was then asked if he was prepared to take on the Dagestani fighter in a rematch, and the former welterweight UFC champion claimed that it would be a dream fight after he clashed with Rakhmonov.
“Yeah. That would be the dream. That’s why I want to fight Shavkat because beating someone like him, you get thrown right back in there,” he added.
Della Maddalena was unbeaten since losing his first two pro MMA fights in 2016, and he had captured the welterweight title by defeating Belal Muhammad in May.
However, Jack had no answer to Islam Makhachev’s wrestling skills, who secured every takedown he chased and held the Australian fighter pressed to the canvas for extended periods.
Makhachev was the favourite before the fight, but concerns existed that Della Maddalena’s size and boxing skills might make it difficult for the Dagestani fighter.
However, the worries disappeared within seconds as Makhachev halted Della Maddalena’s early burst with a takedown and pinned the champion’s back to the canvas.