The UFC has nailed down one of its champions and top stars for the foreseeable future.
2026 will mark a new era for mixed martial arts’ leading promotion, as the UFC begins a new broadcast deal with Paramount.
With the ESPN partnership set to expire, much had been made of the UFC’s future. Among the companies most commonly mentioned were Netflix and Amazon, so the reveal of a huge $7.7 billion agreement between UFC and Paramount that brings an end to pay-per-view shocked plenty.
Talk soon turned to fighter pay, with many questioning what the deal will mean for remuneration such as bonuses. Dana White insisted fighter pay will go up as a result of the news, and while that remains without evidence to date, one champion clearly liked the numbers he saw on a recent offer…
- LATEST UFC NEWS: Dana White was set to grant UFC star’s MSG wish but his planned opponent turned the fight down
Jack Della Maddalena becomes first champ to ink a new deal since UFC announced Paramount deal
Welterweight king Jack Della Maddalena was among the first to negotiate a new deal with the UFC following confirmation of the lucrative broadcast deal.
He revealed to Fox Sports Australia that he put pen to paper on a fresh six-fight contract with the MMA leader, seemingly making him the first titleholder to agree a new deal under the multi-billion-dollar broadcast deal.
“So Tim (Simpson) is the man,” Della Maddalena said of his manager. “A genius.
“I’ve only just signed a new six-fight deal and couldn’t be happier. Initially, you get a figure in your head that you hope might be met, then you send Tim to the negotiating table…and we get it.
“I would be one of the first champions to sign under the new Paramount deal,” Della Maddalena added. “Now it’s time to get the work done.”
The news comes soon after confirmation of Della Maddalena’s first title defense this November.
After unseating Belal Muhammad from the welterweight throne in Canada this past May, Della Maddalena will be challenged by Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden.
- LATEST UFC NEWS: Colby Covington slams ‘pathetic’ Dustin Poirier for retiring in latest rant about his ex-teammate
Jack Della Maddalena expects Islam Makhachev to be ‘easier’ to beat than Belal Muhammad in one way
The first test on Della Maddalena’s new contract is a big one, to say the least.
Despite being champion in the weight class above where Makhachev ruled, the Australian is currently the betting underdog for the UFC 322 main event.
But the defending titleholder firmly expects to upset the odds come fight night, largely because of one area in which Della Maddalena expects Makhachev to be “easier” to beat than his last opponent.
“I think his (Makhachev’s) striking on the feet, I even think it’s easier than Belal because he’ll just stay in one stance,” Della Maddalena said on The West Sport Show.
“He’s (got) more (of a) traditional style. But yeah, he’s the pound-for-pound number one so it’s a tough fight.
“I guess we’ll just watch all of his fights again, make a solid game plan, and then just start working at it from pretty much now.”