Jack Della Maddalena proved his elite welterweight status at UFC 299 with a stunning victory over the veteran, Gilbert Burns! The Australian is currently undefeated in the UFC and going into the fight against ‘Durinho’, many fans were wondering how he would fare against someone of Burns’ caliber. But Maddalena finished the Brazilian in the third round and staked his claim on the number 5 spot in the division’s rankings.
However, in a recent post shared on social media, Maddalena’s manager revealed that he won the fight despite breaking his arm. The photo showcases a severe fracture, but that didn’t stop Della Maddalena from making a statement by pushing through adversity and finishing the fight with essentially, just one arm!
Jack Della Maddalena overcame horrific injury to finish Gilbert Burns at UFC 299
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During the fight with Gilbert Burns at UFC 299, Jack Della Maddalena was reminded why the Brazilian has held his place at the top of the division for so long. For 2 rounds, both men tried to impose their game plan with Burns edging out the Australian on 2 of the judges’ scorecards going into the third round.
But despite facing adversity from Burns’ grappling, Della Maddalena remained composed and focused on his strategy. In the final round, he unleashed a devastating knee strike, followed by a barrage of punches and elbows, leading to a knockout victory.
Now, his manager Tim Simpson has revealed that Maddalena had broken his arm “early” in the fight. He captioned the X-Ray, “Jack Della Maddalena arm snapped clean early in the fight, Rallied for a finish in the 3rd. Soldier! PS Gilbert kicks hard!”
Jack Della Maddalena broke his arm before knocking out Gilbert Burns at #UFC299, per his manager Tim Simpson.
Hell of a way to overcome adversity in the biggest fight of his life. pic.twitter.com/cYgpfq8DqD
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) March 13, 2024
The report was also shared on X by Mike Bohn who stated, “Hell of a way to overcome adversity in the biggest fight of his life” and also revealed in another tweet, “X-ray is of left arm. Finishing shots were with the right.” clarifying a fan’s doubt about the fracture happening in the late rounds.
This defiant win from the welterweight also drew high praise from a fellow Australian and former featherweight champion in the UFC!
Maddalena headed to “the top” proclaims ‘The Great’
Former featherweight king, Alexander Volkanovski, is full of praise for Jack Della Maddalena’s standout victory at UFC 299. The two men have a shared history as they have trained together in the past. Speaking on his YouTube channel, ‘The Great’ lauded his fellow Australian for his stunning victory over the veteran, Gilbert Burns.
Volkanovski stated, “Credit to Jack Della. Again, I told you guys, he’s very well-rounded… Jack Della’s one to keep an eye on. I think he’s definitely going to the top.”
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He also broke down how impressed he was with Maddalena’s ability to avoid Burn’s dangerous ground game despite being put into a few dangerous situations during the grappling exchanges.
Maddalena’s win has now propelled him to the top 5 spot in the rankings at welterweight. And during his post-fight interview, he called out another dangerous undefeated contender in the division, Shavkat Rakhmonov. So, fans will be hoping to see these two elite welterweights go head-to-head against one another soon in a fight that promises to be filled with spectacular action!
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What do you think of Jack Della Maddalena’s call-out of Shavkat Rakhmonov? And who’s your pick for the potential clash between the two? Share your thoughts in the comments below!