Makhachev to Face Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November

Javier Mendez, the coach of Islam Makhachev, has identified his pupil’s greatest asset prior to the contest against Jack Della Maddalena, according to international reports on Wednesday.

Makhachev, celebrated for his formidable 12-0 winning record, is set to challenge Della Maddalena for the welterweight title at UFC 322 in November 2025.

Coach Mendez highlighted the Russian fighter’s exceptional strength. He asserted that Makhachev possesses immense power.

“I believe the most significant advantage we have is his remarkable strength. He is incredibly powerful. He is extraordinarily strong. He surpasses all my lightweights in terms of strength,” Mendez stated.

“I can’t recall any lightweight who was stronger than him. Not even close; he is by far the strongest. Therefore, among everyone I’ve trained, he has the best chance of withstanding the strength of larger opponents.”

Mendez also acknowledged that Della Maddalena presents a unique challenge compared to Makhachev’s previous adversaries.

“I’ve never studied tape for an Islam fight before. Never. This marks the first occasion because I deeply respect this individual, and he presents a complex challenge,” he admitted.

“He’s not straightforward. I assure you, he’s not an easy opponent. We’ll overcome him, but it won’t be simple, and I must maintain confidence in our ability to do so.”

Earlier this year at UFC 311, Islam Makhachev, the former UFC champion, successfully defended his lightweight title for the fourth time against Renato Moicano through submission. Subsequently, in May, he relinquished his lightweight title and transitioned to the welterweight division.

Islam’s decision to vacate his title followed Belal Muhammad’s defeat against Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight belt at UFC 315.