Jack Della Maddalena has broken his silence following his first loss in over a decade after being dominated by Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden.
The Australian struggled with Makhachev’s grappling during his first welterweight title defense and was defeated over five rounds. After facing criticism for the one-sided nature of the bout, Della Maddalena shared a brief message on social media.
“Thanks to those always supporting. Islam is one of the greats and deserved to win. I will learn and move forward,” he wrote.
His coach, Ben Vickers, also praised Makhachev and encouraged Della Maddalena to take time off and reflect positively on the year. He highlighted that despite the loss, 2025 had been a successful year, including winning the world title.
At just 29 years old, Della Maddalena is expected to remain a strong contender in the welterweight division for years to come.
