“He could outstrike him”: Coach Javier Mendez sends stark warning to Jack Della Maddalena

Jack Della Maddalena’s recent victory against former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has earned him massive recognition as an emerging MMA star, making history in the welterweight division. By outlasting Muhammad, the Australian welterweight champion has paved the way to step inside the octagon against the current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev. After the brutal defeat of Makhachev’s training partner and friend, Muhammad, his intentions to become a two-division champion were made clear on several occasions. The recent message by coach Javier Mendez, while sparking the possibility of a bout between Makhachev and Maddalena, has raised the alarm for the newly crowned welterweight champion not to mistake Makhachev as just another opponent.After stopping the ‘Canelo hands’ wave by Muhammad on May 10 at Bell Center in Montreal, Canada, Maddalena has earned massive appreciation and recognition for his Striking performance. The ending of UFC 315 begins with the potential of a possible showdown between Maddalena and the lightweight champion Makhachev. The iconic MMA coach Mendez is one among many who believe that Makhachev could be the one to dethrone Maddalena in the welterweight division to become a two-division champion. While speaking on Submission Radio, Mendez subtly issued a caution amid talking about UFC 315 and the future possibilities of what might be next on the cards regarding the potential showdown between Makhachev and Maddalena. He stated, "Islam's a whole different animal than Jack's ever been involved with. If that fight does materialize, we're going to see a hell of a fight, and you're going to see Islam perform at an absolute incredible level. The weight, it's not super big for him, so he's going to be a fairly decent welterweight."As Mendez is loud with putting his faith in Makhachev to outdo an opponent like Maddalena, he continued further, "We would dictate the fight based on how well he's doing or not doing, and he can do it all. Can he take Jack down? Absolutely, he can take him down. Can he outstrike Jack? Absolutely, he could outstrike him. But is it wise to try to outstrike him like I feel we can? I don't know—it may not be. It may be a better deal to do what Belal should have done and what he didn't do, and that's something I know Islam will do because he's never not listened to us." Maddalena might be on the rise, but if he is eyeing the Dagestani champion, his coach’s words serve both as a stark warning and a reality check. Also Read: Newly crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena makes historic pound-for-pound ranking debut