Jack Della Maddalena will face an uphill task trying to defeat pound-for-pound great Islam Makhachev in his first title defence – but one ex-opponent reckons he will be able to do it.
Danny Roberts was one of the Australian’s first opponents in the UFC, kicking off his run to welterweight gold. In fact, prior to the win over Gilbert Burns that earned him his shot at Belal Muhammad, Roberts was JDM’s last KO win.
Roberts is now set to make his debut with the PFL, taking on the undefeated Patrick Habirora tomorrow night in Brussels. Meanwhile Della Maddalena is UFC world champion, expected to defend his belt against the legendary lightweight champion Makhachev this November.
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Jack Della Maddalena must make Islam Makhachev ‘feel human’ in UFC title showdown
The key to beating Islam Makhachev, according to Roberts, lies in getting past his aura of invincibility. He believes that Jack Della Maddalena must remember his own ability, and not focus on the record of his decorated rival.
“Everyone’s human, right,” Roberts explained in an exclusive chat with Bloody Elbow. “There’s been this aura around Russians and Dagestanis since Khabib who was one of the greatest athletes of all time with what he’s done. It gives a kind of sense of immortality with this place in the world.
“I’ve been in there with one of them before and my coach at the time said ‘let’s go in there and make them feel human’. They are only human so let’s make them bleed and do this and do that.
“Being in there with JDM you immediately feel the pressure and hands that he’s got. I’ve been able to watch his performances after our fight and seen him grow. I think he’s a force to be reckoned with for sure.
“I believe he can definitely create the upset, some people may hate me for saying that but I’m the one who has been in there with that motherf—er! I can tell you he has got a special ability.”
Jack Della Maddalena was best opponent of Danny Roberts’ veteran career
Roberts has been in the octagon with some major names, including Mike Perry and Michel Pereira. But he notes that the three-and-a-half minutes he spent with Della Maddalena were enough to know for sure the current champion was the best opponent he faced.
“Listen, he’s champ so it’s undeniable that he’s the best that I’ve fought,” he continued. “Was it the right time for me? Were all the factors going into the fight right? Probably not, but regardless of that look at him, see how casual he was and how relaxed he was, it breeds that level of supreme athlete.
“I feel like he gives that aura off and look, the fight was short lived, I wasn’t able to speak to him after the fight and I feel like I might have been just another rung on the ladder for him. At the time I fought him he was on like a 12-fight winning streak or something like that.
“Yeah, he’s definitely a force to be reckoned with and when he fights Makhachev, whether it goes his way or maybe it doesn’t, everyone is going to realize how great he is. That’s regardless of what I believe.”