Khabib Nurmagomedov wants fans to understand something very clearly before UFC 322 takes place in New York. Jack Della Maddalena is not someone to overlook. While most of the build up has focused on Islam Makhachev’s chance to become a two division champion, Nurmagomedov believes the champion standing on the other side is far more dangerous than many people realize.
Della Maddalena will defend his welterweight title for the first time on Saturday night after taking the belt from Belal Muhammad in May. The Australian standout is riding an eighteen fight winning streak and has shown steady improvement in every performance. Still, many fans and analysts are already looking ahead to what a Makhachev victory would mean for his legacy. Nurmagomedov does not think that is wise.
Speaking with Josh Thomson on YouTube, Nurmagomedov explained that most people only know Makhachev because of his dominant five year run in the lightweight division. He said casual fans may not understand how skilled Della Maddalena really is because they have only seen him in one major championship fight. According to Nurmagomedov, the champion’s last performance proved exactly how dangerous he can be.
Nurmagomedov described Della Maddalena as a very tough opponent and emphasized that their camp trained extremely hard for this matchup. He said the team expects a difficult fight and has prepared for every possibility. He also stressed that they respect Della Maddalena’s ability and are not taking him lightly in any way.
Another major storyline has been Makhachev’s move from 155 to 170 pounds. Nurmagomedov explained that the transition began months ago. After Makhachev’s January fight, he started slowly adding size and strength with a plan to move to welterweight. According to Nurmagomedov, Makhachev never went over 200 pounds and handled the weight build naturally, which gives the team confidence that he will perform well in the higher division.
When asked about where a victory would place Makhachev in the GOAT discussion, Nurmagomedov said that the legacy conversation is not the main priority. What matters more to him is continuing the path laid out by his late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. He talked about how each generation of fighters improves together and passes on knowledge, creating a staircase of progress that continues through Usman Nurmagomedov and the next wave of athletes coming out of their gym.
For Khabib, UFC 322 is not just a title fight. It is another chapter in a much bigger legacy.
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