Home

Jack Della Maddalena wants to take top-15 welterweight fighter on Australian card after UFC 275

Headshot of Mitchell Woodcock
Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
Perth’s Jack Della Maddalena wants a fight in Australia this summer.
Camera IconPerth’s Jack Della Maddalena wants a fight in Australia this summer. Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West Australian

Jack Della Maddalena has declared he wants to fight a big name on home soil this summer as he looks to smash his way through the top of the welterweight division.

The 25-year-old Perth fighter will take a big step in his UFC career when he fights Russian Ramazan Emeev on his main-card debut at UFC 275 in Singapore on Sunday.

Della Maddalena (11-2) has not tasted defeat in six years and believes he will have no trouble putting away a “flat-footed” Emeev (20-5).

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

And once he does, Della Maddalena wants another two fights before the end of the year, culminating in a showdown against one of the division’s best in his home country, with Perth’s RAC Arena one of the venues being touted.

“I definitely see an Australian UFC fight on the cards this year and if not, early next year,” Della Maddalena said.

The Game AFL 2024

“I am down to fight them all, if I’m honest. I don’t think I will get that top 15 fight next, I reckon I’d need one more fight and then it’d be in the top 15 for a showdown, hopefully in Australia.

“I am hoping by the end of my career I have fought every single one of them in the top 15, so whichever one of them comes first, comes first.”

Della Maddalena said he’d heard talk about a potential UFC event in Perth and it “would be a dream come true” to be on the card.

Jack Della Maddalena is on an 11-fight win streak.
Camera IconJack Della Maddalena is on an 11-fight win streak. Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

RAC Arena last hosted a UFC event in 2018 and is being considered as a potential venue for the promotion’s return to Australia which could come as soon as this summer.

Della Maddalena first focus is beating Emeev, who he wants to keep standing up in search of another TKO victory.

“I expect a wrestling style from him. I think he’s quite flat-footed, a bit of a plodder so the plan is to move around and sting him at all costs and stay off the deck,” he said.

“If it does hit the deck, no issues, I feel like I’ve got all my bases covered. But my plan is to stick and move.”

Della Maddalena said he didn’t have a timeframe for his ultimate goal, to be ranked top five in the welterweight division and fight the champion, which is currently Kamaru Usman.

“The only realistic (short-term) goal I’ve got is to right Ramazan and then have two more fights this year and then see how it plays out,” he said.

“I’ll just keep fighting consistently, keep racking up wins.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails