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Makhachev vs. Maddalena: Is Underestimating Islam’s Striking a Death Wish?

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 10:06 AM ET

In the world of UFC, trash talk and mental warfare are as much a part of the game as a well-timed takedown. It’s a classic strategy: get in your opponent’s head, make them doubt themselves, and hope they make a mistake. But sometimes, a fighter’s confidence—or perhaps their coach’s—crosses the line from strategic prodding into what can only be described as a potentially career-altering miscalculation. Jack Della Maddalena, the welterweight champion, seems to be dancing on that very line, and Islam Makhachev’s camp is watching with a smirk.

Della Maddalena recently made some waves by suggesting Makhachev’s stand-up game is, well, “simple.” He even implied that former champ Belal Muhammad posed a greater striking threat. It’s a bold claim, especially when you’re about to step into the octagon with a man who has made a career of systematically dismantling his opponents, whether on the feet or the mat.

Unsurprisingly, Makhachev’s long-time coach at American Kickboxing Academy, Javier Mendez, had a few things to say about that. In a recent interview, Mendez didn’t sound angry or offended; he sounded almost hopeful. “If he’s saying that, I hope that he goes in believing that,” Mendez said, practically daring Della Maddalena to test his theory. “When he gets in there with Islam you’re going to find out a whole different story.”

Let’s be real for a second. Calling Makhachev’s striking “simple” is like calling a shark a “fish.” Sure, it’s technically true, but it dangerously ignores the lethal efficiency that lies just beneath the surface.

Why Is Everyone Underestimating Makhachev?

It’s easy to see why opponents pigeonhole Islam Makhachev. Hailing from Dagestan and training under the same roof as the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, his wrestling and grappling are nothing short of terrifying. His ground game is a suffocating black hole from which few escape. Because of this, his striking has often been viewed as merely a tool to set up the takedown—a means to an end.

But that’s where the trap lies. Mendez, who has been watching Makhachev “destroy everybody in the standup” for over a decade, warns against this lazy analysis. “Any MMA fighter that’s a striker is not going to have an easy time with him,” he insists. “Don’t go by what you see. When you get in there with that man, it’s a whole different ballgame.”

This isn’t just coach-speak. We saw it against Alexander Volkanovski, a fighter celebrated for his striking acumen. Makhachev not only held his own but landed significant shots, culminating in a head-kick knockout in their second fight that nobody saw coming. His striking isn’t flashy, but it’s precise, powerful, and backed by impeccable timing—a direct result of the high-level sambo principles that govern his every move.

Della Maddalena’s Camp Doubles Down

You’d think Mendez’s stern warning might give Della Maddalena‘s team a moment of pause. You would be wrong. JDM’s head coach, Ben Vickers, took the rhetoric a step further, questioning Makhachev’s ability to take a punch at welterweight. “I just don’t think that Islam has the chin that Belal has,” Vickers declared, adding, “We know for a fact that if Jack clips someone clean on the chin, they could go over.”

It’s a fascinating, if not audacious, strategy. They’re not just banking on Della Maddalena’s striking superiority; they’re betting that Makhachev, a pound-for-pound king moving up in weight, has a glass jaw just waiting to be discovered. It’s a high-risk, high-reward gamble. If they’re right, JDM could deliver a highlight-reel knockout and solidify his reign. If they’re wrong, it could be a very long, or very short, night for the Australian champion.

This whole narrative sets the stage for a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, but with a tantalizing twist. The “grappler” in this equation might just be the more dangerous striker. While Della Maddalena’s camp is busy talking about chins and “simple” techniques, Javier Mendez is doing something he claims he’s never done before: obsessively watching fight tape. He’s respecting the threat Della Maddalena poses, dissecting his every move, and preparing his fighter for a war.

The question is, is Della Maddalena’s team doing the same, or are they letting their own narrative cloud their judgment? Come UFC 322, we’ll find out if underestimating Islam Makhachev’s striking is a brilliant mind game or a one-way ticket to a very painful reality check.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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