“What he’s done, I think he deserves a title shot if he wants to step up,” said newly crowned UFC welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena last week. Showcasing his elite striking skills, the Aussie not only dethroned the American-Palestinian Belal Muhammad but also inflicted serious damage—breaking the former champ’s orbital bone and splitting his lip in two. It was a level of dominance few expected in Belal’s first title defense.

With ‘Remember The Name’ out of the picture, the door now appears open for Islam Makhachev to make his long-anticipated move up to welterweight—a move the reigning lightweight champion has already expressed interest in as he eyes a second title. Jack Della Maddalena welcomed the potential matchup, calling it a “beautiful challenge.” Yet despite JDM’s brutal performance against Muhammad, many fans and analysts still favor the pound-for-pound king Makhachev if the two were to meet inside the Octagon. But the Australian doesn’t share that sentiment.

In his recent interview with Ariel Helwani, JDM made a confident prediction when asked how a fight between him and Islam Makhachev would play out. “I think I’m going to take him out. Take him out, I think. Belal really walks, changes stances—there’s a lot of movement. But I think if I can have someone that just stays in the same stance… and I don’t think Islam’s a very good striker, I think I could land a lot of shots, and I think I could take him out,” Della Maddalena said.

But Jack Della Maddalena hadn’t finished yet. He went even further, boldly claiming that after he’s finished with Islam Makhachev, he’ll send him straight to Alexander Volkanovski—so his teammate can exact revenge for the knockout loss he suffered at UFC 284.

When Helwani asked, “Do you think he’ll stick around at 170, or do you think it’s just…,” Jack responded without hesitation: “I think it’ll be one fight, and then he’ll probably have to go back down because of how it’ll go, yeah.”

Such confident remarks have certainly raised eyebrows, especially since they’re aimed at the reigning pound-for-pound king. Islam Makhachev, who defended his title for a record fourth time at UFC 311, is currently riding an impressive 15-fight win streak and has finished nine of his last opponents. Whether Della Maddalena can back up his words remains to be seen—but  Makhachev’s coach has already fired back with an eye-opening response to the surging Aussie. Let’s take a look at what he had to say.

Islam Makhachev’s coach sends warning to Jack Della Maddalena

When it comes to size, Islam Makhachev is on par with Jack Della Maddalena, something the welterweight champion himself acknowledges. Since entering the Octagon, the Dagestani native has faced an impressive array of top-tier opponents—ranging from featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski to seasoned lightweight veterans like Dustin Poirier—and has come out on top every time.

The 155lbs champion’s list of opponents is arguably even stronger than that of his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Stylistically, Islam Makhachev has become more versatile, not only improving his wrestling but also showcasing elite striking skills, cementing his place as one of the best in the division.

As Della Maddalena sends a warning to the Russian powerhouse, Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, steps in to remind everyone of the formidable fighter Islam truly is. In an interview with Submission Radio, the American Kickboxing Academy coach said, “Islam’s a whole different animal than Jack’s ever been involved with. If that fight does materialize, we’re going to see a hell of a fight, and you’re going to see Islam perform at an absolutely incredible level. The weight, it’s not super big for him, so he’s going to be a fairly decent welterweight.”

With Jack Della Maddalena’s next fight still under wraps by Dana White & Co., how do you feel about the Australian’s bold statement? Do you believe Jack can take out Islam Makhachev? Share your thoughts below!