Islam Makhachev may enter the fight as a favourite, but former opponent Danny Roberts believes Jack Della Maddalena has what it takes to pull off the upset.
Roberts was one of the earliest to step into the Octagon against the Australian, playing a role in his climb through the welterweight ranks. Before his win over Gilbert Burns earned him a shot at Belal Muhammad, it was Roberts who had been on the receiving end of JDM’s last knockout victory.
Now, as Roberts prepares for his own career chapter with PFL, set to debut against undefeated Patrick Habirora in Brussels, Della Maddalena finds himself holding UFC gold and is lined up for a November defence against one of the sport’s most respected champions.
Danny Roberts suggests Jack Della Maddalena has to break Islam Makhachev’s ‘aura’
To Roberts, JDM’s path to victory isn’t about matching Makhachev’s résumé – it’s about breaking through the mystique attached to his name and upbringing.
“Everyone’s human, right,” Roberts told Bloody Elbow. “There’s been this aura around Russians and Dagestanis since Khabib, who was one of the greatest athletes of all time. It creates this sense of invincibility from that part of the world.
“I’ve been in there with one before, and my coach at the time said, ‘Let’s go in there and make them feel human.’ They are only human – let’s make them bleed, let’s put pressure on them.
“Being in there with JDM you immediately feel the pressure and hands that he’s got. I’ve been able to watch his performances after our fight and seen him grow. I think he’s a force to be reckoned with for sure.
“I believe he can definitely create the upset, some people may hate me for saying that but I’m the one who has been in there with that motherf***er! I can tell you he has got a special ability.”
Danny Roberts ranks Jack Della Maddalena above every opponent he’s faced, including Mike Perry
Roberts’s résumé includes recognisable names like Mike Perry and Michel Pereira, but he didn’t hesitate describing JDM as the best he’d faced – even though their bout lasted under four minutes.
“Listen, he’s champ so it’s undeniable that he’s the best that I’ve fought,” he said. “Was it the right time for me? Were all the factors going into the fight right? Probably not, but regardless of that look at him, see how casual he was and how relaxed he was, it breeds that level of supreme athlete.
“I feel like he gives that aura off and look, the fight was short-lived, I wasn’t able to speak to him after the fight and I feel like I might have been just another rung on the ladder for him. At the time I fought him he was on like a 12-fight winning streak or something like that.
“Yeah, he’s definitely a force to be reckoned with and when he fights Makhachev, whether it goes his way or maybe it doesn’t, everyone is going to realise how great he is. That’s regardless of what I believe.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
