Beating Dagestani fighters seems like an almost impossible task these days. From Magomed Ankalaev to Team Khabib, opponents consistently struggle to overcome their dominance. Ahead of his fight against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, Jack Della Maddalena shared his thoughts on Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski, saying he believes ‘The Great’ came very close to snatching the title from the Dagestani champion.
Talking to Mark Bouris, JDM praised Alexander Volkanovski for his performance against Islam Makhachev, especially in the final moments of the fight. He highlighted how Volkanovski was handling the Dagestani wrestler well, despite Makhachev’s dominance on the ground.
Della Maddalena believed that if the fight had gone on for just 20 more seconds, Volkanovski might have pulled off a win. He pointed out that the last round ended with Makhachev on his back, taking heavy shots from Volkanovski, and in his opinion, Volkanovski deserved the victory.
“That was inspiring. The Dagestani wrestler nobody could really mess with him; if he gets you down, it’s over. And Volk was just having a great old time. The last round finished with Islam on his back, just absolutely wailing on him. We just needed another 20 seconds. I thought Volk won,” he said.
‘We just needed another 20 seconds’: Jack Della says Volk was about to finish Islam
"That was inspiring. The Dagestani wrestler—nobody could really mess with him; if he gets you down, it's over. And Volk was just having a great old time. The last round finished with Islam on… pic.twitter.com/G7pfN9yJqb
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 6, 2025
Indeed, their first fight was incredibly close—at one point, it felt like Islam’s magic had faded and Volk was about to take over. But the UFC champ didn’t let that happen. He held strong, won the fight, and then silenced all doubts with a knockout victory in the rematch.
Coach Javier Mendez Feels Not Having Khabib At His Side Impacted Performance Of Islam Makhachev
Coach Javier Mendez believes that not having Khabib by Islam’s side affected his performance. He pointed out how important Khabib’s experience and guidance have been in Islam’s career. When asked about the impact of Khabib’s absence, especially after Islam’s tough first fight with Volkanovski, Mendez admitted it had an effect on Islam. He credited having Khabib in his corner for the rematch as a major difference-maker.
Indeed, it’s not just Islam—having Khabib in anyone’s corner would add significant strength to their performance. His experience, insight, and tactical approach are unmatched. Khabib’s presence brings confidence and clarity, making a noticeable impact on a fighter’s mindset and strategy. For anyone, his guidance is a game-changer.