Jack Della Maddalena is headed into one of the toughest tests of his career. But it’s hardly the only battle he’s endured. Since turning professional in 2016, the Australian standout has fought through some of the sport’s harshest proving grounds, grinding his way through multiple promotions before finally breaking into the UFC. Now, on Saturday night at UFC 322, he’s set to face his toughest challenge yet.

The 29-year-old will defend his gold for the first time against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, a matchup that has fans buzzing. But ahead of the fight, something unrelated to the matchup has caught the public’s attention: his nose. Jack Della Maddalena’s noticeably crooked nose has become a talking point among fans, sparking one simple question: What exactly happened to it?

The second pro fight that broke Jack Della Maddalena’s nose

Jack Della Maddalena’s rise through the UFC welterweight ranks has been impressive, but the journey began with a brutal and humbling lesson. Before the knockouts, the hype, and the prospect status, the Australian fighter endured a rocky start that included a painful setback in just his second professional bout—one that left a permanent mark on his face, literally.

“I’ve got a pretty bad nose,” Della Maddalena said with a laugh on The MMA Hour back in June 2022. “It’s been smashed in.” According to him, the damage came early. “I think it happened in my second MMA fight. I got kneed straight in the nose and since that day, it’s been facing the wrong way.” Since then, his nose has remained misshapen. That fight didn’t just break his nose.

It put him at 0–2 and forced him to confront some tough questions about his career. At a crossroads, ‘3-Name Jack’ leaned on a conversation with his coach, who believed the young fighter was far better than his record suggested. Together, they made a pact: fight their way to 10–2. “It seemed like a massive goal… but we slowly worked at it and made it happen,” he said.

That second fight came against Darcy Vendy of Australia in May 2016. Since then, Della Maddalena has not lost a fight. But why didn’t the Aussie get his nose fixed via surgery? 

Why JDM refuses corrective surgery

Despite the crooked nose and the obvious discomfort it may have caused over the years, Della Maddalena has no plans to undergo corrective surgery. At least not until his days in combat sports are over. “I am going to get it fixed one day,” he admitted. For the Australian fighter, the decision makes all the sense because it’s the most practical thing to do.

“I thought, what’s the point of getting it fixed now when my job is to get punched in it. But I will get it fixed one day.” Maddalena is currently 29 years old, and considering UFC fighters continue their career well past 35, the surgery isn’t coming anytime soon. Not to mention, his ambitions of eventually moving to middleweight will take precedence.

Having said that, Jack Della Maddalena isn’t bothered by how his crooked nose looks. Beyond just practicality, it serves as a reminder of the mistakes he made in the past. What do you think about his nose?