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Australian Jack Della Maddalena has proven his championship credentials, overcoming adversity on the way to a third-round TKO win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 299.
Della Maddalena, who had spoken throughout the week of his ambitions to challenge welterweight king Leon Edwards for the title, looked to be in trouble midway through the third round.
While impressing with his slick combinations, Della Maddalena was taken down by Burns on multiple occasions and the Brazilian appeared to have ground control over the tiring Australian with a few minutes left on the clock in the third.
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A tiring Della Maddalena looked lost for answers before suddenly rolling out of Burns’ grasps and then stunning the No. 4 ranked contender with a thundering knee to the face.
The Australian quickly capitalised as he unleashed with vicious elbows and hammer fists until the referee had no choice but to step in.
“Jack Della Maddalena is definitely on a championship trajectory, stunning the Miami masses,” Jon Anik said in commentary.
Speaking after the fight Della Maddalena, who improved to 7-0 in the UFC, said there are “some scary people in the division”.
“And I’m the f***ing scariest,” the Australian added.
In the lead-up to Sunday’s fight Della Maddalena had told foxsports.com.au that if he didn’t get a title shot next he was targeting undefeated Kazakhstani phenom Shavkat Rakhmonov.
“Obviously with a win this weekend I feel like a title shot would be ideal. But if not, somebody like Rakhmonov,” the Australian said.
“Outside the champion, he’s the toughest fight in the division. I feel like if I beat Rakhmonov, nobody can deny me a shot at that title.
“That would be prospect versus prospect, with the winner then getting a title shot.”
Rakhmonov submitted Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson in his last fight at UFC 296 to improve his professional MMA record to 17-0 with six wins in the UFC.
Della Maddalena, meanwhile, rapidly rose up the welterweight ranks with four straight stoppage victories to open his UFC career, one of which came via submission.
It has been a much tougher task for the Perth native in his past two fights, defeating both Kevin Holland and Bassil Hafez by split decision.
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