Jack Della Maddalena better be ready for all kinds of attacks, says Umar Nurmagomedov, friend and teammate of Islam Makhachev.<\/p>\n
Della Maddalena defends his UFC welterweight title next month in the main event of UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden, New York, against Makhachev \u2013 a pound-for-pound great who vacated his lightweight belt earlier this year in pursuit of Della Maddalena’s title at 170 pounds. To many, this might be a striker vs. grappler fight, but Nurmagomedov assures there’s much more to that.<\/p>\n
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“Islam is in amazing shape. This guy is a very smart fighter,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie. “I’m his friend, and he just doesn’t have one plan for the fight, he has plan A, B, C, and all alphabet. He has everything. If something he couldn’t do, he can try other one. If other one is not good, he goes to the next one. He’s amazing. He’s an amazing fighter, and he’s an amazing friend, brother, and he will take this belt. I think he deserves.”<\/p>\n
Nurmagomedov faces Mario Bautista on Oct. 18 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 262. He’s long been fighting and training alongside Makhachev, and has definitely felt an increase in power from Makhachev ahead of the Nov. 15 pay-per-view.<\/p>\n
“He’s become bigger, and now he has more power than ever. I think he’s ready,” Nurmagomedov said.<\/p>\n