UFC President Dana White was compelled to take swift action to defuse a potentially volatile confrontation between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena during a tense face-off preceding UFC 322.
Staredown Escalation Forces Intervention
Following the official pre-fight press conference, a routine photo opportunity turned intense as the two fighters stood toe-to-toe. Makhachev, 34, and Della Maddalena, 29, engaged in a prolonged staredown lasting a full 15 seconds, with neither athlete willing to break eye contact first and show any perceived weakness.
As the fighters briefly turned towards the audience at Madison Square Garden, it became apparent the confrontation was not over. They quickly pivoted back to continue their intense visual standoff, prompting White to recognise the situation could escalate rapidly.
Championship Stakes and Fighter Ambitions
The UFC boss promptly stepped between the combatants, delivering a light tap on the shoulder before security personnel gradually separated them. This main event clash represents Della Maddalena's first title defence since capturing the welterweight championship from Belal Muhammad in May.
For Makhachev, this bout required a significant sacrifice. The Dagestani fighter was forced to relinquish his UFC lightweight championship to pursue his ambition of joining the exclusive club of simultaneous two-division champions, which currently has only nine members in UFC history.
Makhachev remains adamant about his champion status, stating: 'I feel like I'm still the champion. I didn't lose my belt to anybody. I'm just coming for the second one.' He elaborated on his long-standing goal: 'This is my dream. I'm very close to my dream. My whole professional career, when I was lightweight champion, my dream was to be double champion. And two days more.'
Legacy and Pound-for-Pound Implications
When questioned about where a victory would place him among the all-time greats, Makhachev remained focused on the immediate prize: 'Oh, I don't know, man. Right now I'm not thinking about that. I'm thinking about the belt. I've spent all my life just to be champion, and right now I'm close to that dream.'
Meanwhile, Australian champion Della Maddalena believes a victory against Makhachev would cement his position among the sport's elite. 'This is what I got into this sport for: big challenges, big moments. I'm excited for the challenge and I'm looking forward to it,' he stated confidently.
Della Maddalena added: 'I'm going to take this belt back to Australia, without a doubt. Obviously, Islam is a legend. A big win over him would be a big name on my résumé and would definitely put me on the pound-for-pound list.'
The stylistic matchup presents a fascinating contest between Della Maddalena's elite striking prowess and Makhachev's vastly improved stand-up game combined with his formidable grappling foundation. With history on the line for the Russian fighter and the welterweight championship at stake, all eyes will be on the octagon this Saturday night in New York.
