The UFC has finally announced the welterweight title fight between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev. With Makhachev moving up from lightweight to welterweight, a lot of people are calling this move risky. Recently, a UFC welterweight contender, Sean Brady, said he believes JDM can beat Makhachev in their upcoming clash.
Brady recently appeared on UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra. The American fighter talked about how taking on the welterweight champion is tough because he’s so big. The Dagestani fighter is definitely going to have some trouble facing JDM. In the interview, Brady explained:
“I think it’s a lot tougher of a fight for Islam than people are giving Jack credit for. Jack’s very hard to hold down. He’s a big body, hits like a freight train, has knockout power and he’s showed that getting someone down doesn’t mean d*ck.”
Sean Brady picks Jack Della Maddalena to beat Islam Makhachev #UFC322
(Via @ufc ) pic.twitter.com/4AjyN5ToZ6
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 29, 2025
Brady is questioning Makhachev’s wrestling ability, wondering if he can actually keep JDM down or not. He also mentioned that the welterweight champion is really good at creating scrambles and getting back to his feet. Since this fight is getting so much hype, a lot of UFC stars and analysts are sharing their opinions, which is drawing even more attention to it.
Chael Sonnen Warns Islam Makhachev’s Move To Welterweight Could Backfire
The UFC has officially set Madison Square Garden for the welterweight title clash between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena. While Makhachev prepares to move up, questions about the gamble are mounting. Even his longtime coach, Javier Mendez, knows JDM won’t be an easy opponent. UFC veteran Chael Sonnen weighed in, highlighting the high stakes of the move:
“What an incredibly difficult situation to put Islam in. If he loses, are you going to run back to 155, which, by the way, isn’t the way you left it — there’s a new king. Or do you start reclaiming the ladder at 170? Not one that I believe Team Islam is considering. I believe they are expecting to win.”
Chael Sonnen says Islam Makhachev is in a tough spot with his move to welterweight — “If he loses, where does he go?” 👀💭
“What an incredibly difficult situation to put Islam in. If he loses, are you going to run back to 155, which, by the way, isn’t the way you left it —… pic.twitter.com/2OE6bgr7Qp
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 5, 2025
Meanwhile, Makhachev has been looking strong and focused in his recent training clips. With so much on the line, he’s clearly putting in serious work. Only time will tell whether he can make history as a two-division champion.
