When Jack Della Maddalena made the decision to bring Alexander Volkanovski into his training camp, many in the MMA world raised their eyebrows. The move was bold, unconventional, and deeply strategic. As the Australian welterweight contender prepares for what could be the defining fight of his career, the partnership with the former UFC Featherweight Champion might be the key to solving the complex puzzle that is Islam Makhachev — the man who has dominated the lightweight division with an unmatched blend of wrestling, control, and composure.

A Calculated Risk from the Perth Prodigy

At just 28 years old, Jack Della Maddalena has already established himself as one of the most promising fighters to emerge from Australia since Volkanovski himself. Known for his razor-sharp boxing, relentless pressure, and ice-cold composure inside the cage, Della Maddalena’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Yet, as he prepares to step into deeper waters against top-tier grapplers and champions like Makhachev, he knows pure striking excellence will not be enough.

That realization led him to one of the boldest moves in his career — reaching out to Volkanovski, the man who took Islam Makhachev to his absolute limits. The collaboration was not about imitation but transformation. Della Maddalena didn’t just want to copy Volkanovski’s blueprint — he wanted to understand the mechanics behind it, the nuances of positioning, timing, and mental warfare that made Volkanovski’s approach so effective.

Volkanovski’s Insight: The Blueprint Against the Dagestani Grip

Few fighters have truly tested Makhachev’s dominance. Volkanovski did more than that — he exposed cracks in the armor that no one else had seen. Despite being the smaller man, he managed to neutralize Makhachev’s ground control, stuff takedowns, and even dominate late exchanges. For Della Maddalena, this wasn’t just a performance — it was a case study in survival and adaptation.

Training alongside Volkanovski means gaining direct access to that knowledge. The former champion understands how Makhachev closes distance, how he grips the hips, and how he transitions between chain wrestling and submissions. Every round with Volkanovski becomes a tactical lesson in balance, leverage, and mental endurance — qualities that Makhachev demands from his opponents but rarely encounters at full capacity.

What Della Maddalena aims to extract is more than defense. He wants to learn how to attack the grappler, how to turn defensive scrambles into offensive bursts, and how to use striking to force Makhachev into uncomfortable positions. That’s exactly what Volkanovski did in their first fight — and nearly walked away with the belt.

The Evolution of Della Maddalena’s Game

From his early days in Perth’s small MMA circuit, Jack Della Maddalena built his reputation on one foundation — pressure. His style mirrors the relentless forward march of a seasoned boxer, breaking opponents with volume and precision. However, as his UFC career progressed, fans noticed a quiet evolution.

He began incorporating defensive wrestling, footwork angles, and a more patient approach to striking exchanges. This maturity, combined with his natural composure, suggested that Della Maddalena wasn’t just a brawler — he was a strategist in the making.

Now, under Volkanovski’s mentorship, that evolution seems to have accelerated. Observers from his training camp report a noticeable increase in grappling awareness and positional intelligence. He’s no longer just trying to avoid the takedown — he’s preparing to capitalize when opponents shoot, using elbows, knees, and reversals to turn grappling exchanges into striking opportunities.

The influence of Volkanovski is unmistakable. Both men share a similar mental approach — a refusal to be intimidated by dominant champions. For Della Maddalena, this collaboration represents more than technical growth; it’s about adopting the champion’s mindset that Volkanovski embodies so naturally.

Makhachev: The Code No One Has Fully Cracked

Islam Makhachev remains one of the most complex fighters in UFC history. His dominance isn’t built on raw power or speed, but on control and anticipation. He reads his opponents like a chess player, forcing them into predictable reactions and capitalizing on every small mistake. His blend of Sambo wrestling, submission grappling, and calm ring IQ creates a style that seems nearly impossible to counter for most strikers.

But if anyone has shown a path through that labyrinth, it’s Volkanovski. He disrupted Makhachev’s rhythm, forced him to work defensively, and even turned the champion’s own grappling into moments of vulnerability. Della Maddalena’s decision to study that fight meticulously — with Volkanovski as his mentor — signals a deep understanding of what lies ahead.

To “crack the Makhachev code,” Della Maddalena needs more than just preparation — he needs immersion. Every aspect of his training must simulate the relentless Dagestani pressure, the cage control, and the suffocating grappling transitions. With Volkanovski by his side, he’s creating exactly that environment.

The Mental War: Lessons Beyond Technique

One of the greatest advantages of training with Volkanovski lies not in physical technique but in psychological conditioning. Makhachev’s opponents often lose the mental battle long before the physical one begins. His calm demeanor, relentless pace, and composure under pressure can make even experienced fighters second-guess themselves.

Volkanovski, however, has proven immune to that aura. His fight IQ and emotional control kept him sharp under the most intense pressure imaginable. For Della Maddalena, observing and absorbing that psychological strength may be the most valuable part of the mentorship.

Sources close to the camp suggest that Volkanovski has been emphasizing situational drills, putting Della Maddalena in disadvantageous positions to force real-time decisions — simulating the suffocating experience of fighting someone like Makhachev. Over time, this type of mental exposure conditions a fighter to remain composed even when everything seems lost.

That’s how Volkanovski survived Makhachev’s grappling. That’s how Della Maddalena intends to evolve.

From Sparring Partner to Tactical Ally

The chemistry between Della Maddalena and Volkanovski has reportedly gone beyond coach-student dynamics. They share a genuine Australian bond, a sense of national pride and mutual respect. Both represent a new wave of Australian MMA — disciplined, cerebral, and unshaken by global pressure.

Volkanovski’s involvement also brings tactical advantages. His coaching team from City Kickboxing, known for analytical fight preparation, has shared insights into Makhachev’s tendencies, creating a detailed breakdown of how he transitions between striking and takedowns. This level of preparation — merging Della Maddalena’s raw aggression with City Kickboxing’s tactical precision — could redefine his fighting style.

The Bigger Picture: Australia’s MMA Renaissance

The collaboration between Della Maddalena and Volkanovski is more than an individual pursuit; it represents a broader renaissance in Australian MMA. Fighters from the region have long been recognized for toughness and endurance, but now they are demonstrating world-class technical and strategic depth.

With Volkanovski, Della Maddalena, and rising prospects like Casey O’Neill and Jamie Mullarkey, Australia’s presence in global MMA is evolving from novelty to dominance. Della Maddalena’s rise, if crowned with success against a grappling titan, could further solidify that status.

This shift reflects a maturing fight culture — one that values science as much as spirit. The collaboration between two of Australia’s finest proves that success in modern MMA requires cross-pollination of knowledge, humility, and adaptability.

A New Chapter in the Making

The road ahead for Jack Della Maddalena is daunting. To face someone like Makhachev is to step into the lion’s den — where one mistake can end the night. But his decision to bring in Volkanovski is not born from desperation; it’s a strategic evolution.

In the past, Della Maddalena might have relied solely on his striking brilliance. Now, he’s broadening his horizons, studying the game’s deepest layers, and preparing to fight like a hybrid — blending technical precision with relentless aggression.

Every day spent under Volkanovski’s watchful eye brings him closer to that ideal. Whether or not he ultimately “cracks the code,” the partnership is already reshaping his approach, mindset, and confidence.

What Victory Would Mean

If Della Maddalena succeeds where others have failed, the impact will resonate beyond rankings or titles. It would signify a changing of the guard — the arrival of a new generation capable of standing toe-to-toe with the world’s most dominant fighters.

For Australia, it would mean validation. For Volkanovski, it would mark his enduring influence on the sport. And for Della Maddalena himself, it would mark the transformation from rising star to world-class tactician, capable of dethroning the sport’s most methodical champion.