Did Jack Della Maddalena really bring his A-game to UFC 322? MMA legend Chael Sonnen doesn't think so, and he's not holding back! Sonnen's critique is sparking debate amongst fight fans, leaving many to question Della Maddalena's strategy against Islam Makhachev.
Bryan Tucker, Managing Editor-in-Chief of MMA Fighting and Executive Director of combat sports at SB Nation, brings us Sonnen's fiery take. According to Sonnen, Della Maddalena's performance was far from impressive. Speaking on ESPN's UFC 322 post-fight show, Sonnen stated bluntly, "I feel Jack underperformed. We were 10 minutes into that fight… Jack hasn’t thrown a punch yet." Ouch!
But here's where it gets controversial... Sonnen didn't stop there. He went on to dissect Della Maddalena's overall striking output, saying, "20 minutes into this fight, he had thrown a total of 31 punches. Of those 31 - only 20 of them landed and most of these were to the body. I was waiting for Jack to get going. It was the same position rinse and repeat." Sonnen's disappointment is palpable, suggesting Della Maddalena relied on a repetitive, ineffective approach.
He even downplayed Della Maddalena's wrestling attempts, adding, "I appreciate a good double leg, the other side of that, I learned that in my first five minutes of wrestling practice.” This raises the question: was Della Maddalena's game plan fundamentally flawed against a dominant grappler like Makhachev?
The official UFC stats paint an even starker picture. Della Maddalena connected on just 30 of 74 total strikes, a concerning accuracy rate. In contrast, Makhachev landed a whopping 140 of 188 strikes, showcasing his superior control and precision. And this is the part most people miss... Makhachev also dominated the grappling exchanges, securing four takedowns and maintaining control for an astounding 19 minutes and 10 seconds of the 25-minute fight. These numbers clearly illustrate Makhachev's dominance and raise serious questions about Della Maddalena's preparation and execution.
Sonnen wasn't alone in his criticism. Fellow UFC analyst Anthony Smith echoed these sentiments, expressing his own puzzlement at Della Maddalena's performance. Smith noted, "I was disappointed in Jack’s output, and his ability to get to his feet... Jack wasn’t doing enough to force Islam to have to work any harder. He was very content to just hold the position. He chased a couple of submissions. He didn’t have to work too hard at it though." Smith's analysis highlights a perceived lack of urgency and aggression from Della Maddalena.
Smith further elaborated on what he felt Della Maddalena was missing, "Jack really never got going on his feet. He only is successful when he punches in combinations, when he is switching stanches in mid-combination, when he is going to the body. He did absolutely none of that…Jack didn’t force him to have to get into second gear - so why would you?” Smith emphasizes the importance of utilizing diverse striking techniques and forcing Makhachev to adapt, something he believes Della Maddalena failed to do.
So, what went wrong for Jack Della Maddalena? Was it a case of poor game planning, a mismatch of styles, or simply an off night? Some might argue that Makhachev's skill is undeniable and that any welterweight would struggle against him. Others might contend that Della Maddalena could have adjusted his strategy mid-fight to better exploit Makhachev's weaknesses. What do you think? Did Della Maddalena underperform, or was he simply outmatched? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
