Jack della Maddalena has been warned that he will be suffocated by Islam Makhachev in a few minutes when the couple finally meet each other.
The Australian defeated Belal Muhammad in May to set up a confrontation with former lightweight Makhachev champion, which is expected to take place later this year. The Russian goes up to pursue a second belt after leaving his belt after a record -breaking series of defenses at 155LB.
And despite Makhachev's admission that getting up weight is more difficult than he initially planned, his teammates still have faith in his ability to win a second belt.
Islam Makhachev walked backwards to stitch Jack della Maddalena
Gadzhi Rabadanov, the PFL season winner 2024 and 2025 World Tournament -finished finalist in the gym with Islam Makhachev and knows exactly where he is capable of in his new division. He trained his teammate with hunters of all sizes and expects a quick finish when he goes gold for good weight.
“I think Islam Jack della Maddalena will choke,” said Rabadanov Bloody Elbow in an exclusive chat prior to his own title fight with Alfie Davis on 15 August in the PFL Lightweight World Tournament. “Islam will struggle and suffocate him, I think. Maybe in the second or third round.
“Stylistically, for Islam and Belal this is a different fight. For me it seemed that the mistake for Belal was that he tried to prove and exchanged a little too much. He wanted to prove it too much and that derailed his fight, I think.”
The problems with the weight gain of Islam Makhakevee will not scare him off
On the famous mats of the Nurmagomedov Gym, hunters tend to spar with the person available, with weight classes for the most part thrown aside. As a result, Rabadanov is one of the few who has seen how Makhachev deals with larger hunters in Sparren.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
And although he has a hard time grabbing tailor -made, he is still becoming stronger according to his teammate. “Maybe he has become a little bigger than before, I don't know,” Rabadanov continued.
“Maybe he is working a little more on lifting, power, I don't know what situation he will come in for the fight. But now he is the same man, he is not big and after a few months I still don't really know what will happen.”