Jack Della Maddalena has spoken.
The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight champion finally broke his silence after losing his belt to Islam Makhachev last weekend (Sat., Nov. 22, 2025) at UFC 322, suffering a dominant unanimous decision loss inside the iconic Madison Square Garden.
Following the lopsided loss, the 29-year-old stayed quiet on social media for several days, leaving his coaches to field questions about what went wrong. Today, Maddalena issued his first public statement
— a brief but classy message on Instagram.
“Thanks to those always supporting,” Maddalena wrote on Instagram. “Islam is one of the greats and deserved to win. I will learn and move forward.”
The defeat snapped Maddalena’s incredible 18-fight win streak and marked his first loss since 2016. During that run, he collected standout victories over Belal Muhammad, Gilbert Burns (watch highlights), Kevin Holland, and more, establishing himself as one of the most technically gifted boxers in the division.
What comes next remains unclear. Many speculated during the fight that Maddalena may have been dealing with an injury, though nothing has been confirmed. With UFC expected to return to Australia in February, a quick turnaround is at least possible if the former champion is healthy enough to compete.
And if he does return early next year, one matchup seems tailor-made for fireworks: a clash with Brazilian knockout machine Carlos Prates. Both men are aggressive, powerful, and thrive in the pocket — a recipe for chaos and exactly the kind of fight fans would flock to.
Make it happen, UFC.
For complete UFC 322 results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
