Jack Della Maddalena got dominated by Islam Makhachev in the UFC 322 pay-per-view (PPV) main event last weekend in New York, a far cry from his title winning performance against Belal Muhammad earlier this year in Montreal. While the Aussie has yet to comment on his first loss in over nine years, coach Ben Vickers was all praise on social media — despite the pain of losing.
“I am more proud of a Jack and the team today than ever before,” Vickers wrote on Instagram. “True, we didn’t get the marbles
but we dared to dream and took our shot. It hurts. It hurts like hell but we aren’t defined by this sport, it’s just what we love to do.”
“We have felt all the support and love over the last couple weeks and decades and it means the world,” Vickers continued. “I love Jack and the Team and I love Scrappy MMA and our community. And rest assured, this is the beginning not the end!”
Maddalena (18-3) will probably need a couple of big wins before he can find his way back to the title after getting blown out by Islam, simply because the contest wasn’t close (and the division is so deep). A comeback fight against Carlos Prates might be in order, or perhaps the returning Shavkat Rahkmonov when all three combatants find their way back to the Octagon in early 2026.
