Jack Della Maddalena is currently facing a challenging period in his career following a two-fight losing streak, which includes losing his welterweight title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 in November 2025 and a third-round defeat against Carlos Prates at UFC Perth.
Declining the UFC Sydney Offer
Speaking to Bedtime MMA, as reported by sports.yahoo.com, Maddalena revealed that he turned down an offer to fight on the upcoming Sydney Fight Night card scheduled for February 7 at the Afterpay Arena because the timeline was too brief. While acknowledging the appeal of fighting in Australia with a home crowd, he noted that competing elsewhere actually brings less pressure.
Maddalena explained that he wanted to avoid rushing back into action as he did following his previous defeat. He stated that his primary goal after the last bout was to develop his skills and grow as a martial artist rather than accepting a fight simply based on its location.
Future Plans and Career Outlook
Aiming to deliver better performances for his supporters and his team, the former 170lbs champion is planning to take his time before stepping back into the Octagon, targeting a comeback in April or May 2027.
Despite his recent setbacks—a stark contrast to his past success when he defeated Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 to claim the welterweight title—Maddalena remains optimistic about his future in the sport, viewing his current struggles as merely a temporary obstacle. Having previously overcome an initial two-fight skid to rattle off an 18-fight win streak, he intends to use the downtime to prepare for potential future opponents like Shavkat Rakhmonov and Mike Malott.
