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Daniel Cormier Reveals Confronting Jack Della Maddalena Over Hate Post
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier is one of the most respected veterans in the entire MMA community. After retirement, the UFC Hall of Famer has shifted his primary focus to being a UFC analyst and commentator. DC mostly shares a great relationship with other fighters; however, recently, he and Jack Della Maddalena got into a minute dispute.

At UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev fought Dricus Du Plessis to win the middleweight title, and Cormier was calling the fight. During the event, Della Maddalena shared a story mentioning there should be a mute button for DC, mocking his commentary.

In his recent YouTube video, Cormier talked about confronting Maddalena about this comment in his private DMs and conversation. Cormier explained how they discussed the matter respectfully, sorted out the minor dispute, and ended things on a positive note.

I just texted Jack. I go, ‘Jack, wrong bro. What’s up? Why Jack?’ And the champ just wrote back, ‘My bad DC, it was a bad take.’ 

Daniel Cormier via YouTube 

Cormier has frequently faced criticism for his commentary, with fans and pundits accusing him of favoritism. Many have mentioned Cormier’s ties to the American Kickboxing Academy and his close friendship with Islam Makhachev as evidence of bias.  A prominent example occurred when Justin Gaethje publicly labeled Cormier “incredibly biased” after Makhachev’s dominant win.

Years ago, fellow UFC commentator Dominic Cruz called out DC for not doing his homework as prep for the commentary gig. Cormier’s commentary at UFC 259 for Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya was also questionable. The Olympic wrestler’s take on the fight was far from the truth. Blachowicz outstruck Izzy and took him down with ground control over five rounds. However, DC felt Izzy made it very competitive.

Cormier has repeatedly defended his impartiality on multiple platforms, insisting that he genuinely “goes out of his way” to call fights. He frequently shares the UFC commentary table with veteran Joe Rogan, who, despite vast experience, also receives recurring criticism from fans. Rogan has been a commentator for over two decades and is considered by many fans to have gradually lost his analytical touch. 

Della Maddalena is officially set to face Islam Makhachev in UFC 322’s main event at Madison Square Garden. Cormier may join the commentary team, staying under scrutiny after previous allegations suggesting favoritism in his analysis. Additionally, it would create anticipation if Cormier interviews JDM before the massive event, adding more intrigue. 

Jack Della Maddalena gets a warning ahead of UFC 322

Jack Della Maddalena immediately accepted Islam Makhachev’s challenge after being called out after winning the belt at UFC 315. His intention was clear as he wanted to defeat the dominant Dagestani champion and climb the pound-for-pound rankings.

He also seeks redemption by avenging fellow countryman Alexander Volkanovski, whose back-to-back losses against Makhachev remain a sore memory for Australian MMA fans. Maddalena has been training alongside Volkanovski, sharpening strategies and ensuring preparation addresses Makhachev’s relentless wrestling pressure.

His superior striking and steadily improving takedown defense could determine whether Makhachev’s wrestling advantage is neutralized in combat effectively. Recently, JDM dismissed Makhachev’s striking, and coach Javier Mendez made sure to give a befitting reply

If he’s saying that, I hope that he goes in believing that because when he gets in there with Islam, he’s going to find out a whole different story. I’m sorry, they’re completely different and by no means is Islam easy for anybody in the standup. Any MMA fighter that’s a striker is not going to have an easy time with him. I’ve been with this kid going on 11 years of watching him just destroy everyone in the standup.

Javier Mendez via Submission Radio 

Makhachev continues his training camp, appearing noticeably bigger than usual, sparking discussions about a strategic size adjustment. Many experts believe carrying additional weight and avoiding a significant weight cut could greatly benefit the Dagestani champion in the fight. Nevertheless, UFC 322 opening odds favor Makhachev strongly, with Della Maddalena entering as a clear underdog candidate.

Losing the bout could put Makhachev at the bottom of a highly competitive welterweight division. On the other hand, many believe the fighter might return to the lightweight division if he beats JDM and gets his second UFC title. Regardless, this fight is one of the most hyped bout of 2025.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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