Jack Della Maddalena began his professional MMA career with two losses but used these setbacks as motivation to achieve a series of ten consecutive wins, ultimately earning a UFC contract. With a current record of 17-2, he is now preparing for his biggest challenge yet against welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in Montreal. Della Maddalena attributes his early losses to valuable lessons that fueled his progression and technical improvements, setting his sights on a UFC title. Despite a year-long hiatus due to injury, he has studied Muhammad's fighting style closely and is confident in his ability to apply pressure and inflict damage throughout the fight. Looking ahead, should he win the title, he hopes to defend it in his hometown of Perth against top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who is currently injured.

Jack Della Maddalena's career began with a challenging 0-2 record, but instead of giving up, he teamed up with coach Ben Vickers to focus on achieving ten consecutive victories, a goal he accomplished, earning a UFC contract after a decisive win over Ange Loosa.

Ahead of UFC 315, Della Maddalena, with a record of 17-2, is preparing to face welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, viewing his early career losses as transformative experiences that equipped him with the necessary skills and mindset for success.

Della Maddalena's journey was interrupted by a significant injury, as he broke his arm in a fight against Gilbert Burns, requiring surgery and a long recovery, during which he analyzed Muhammad's strategy and picked up on areas to exploit.

He observed that Belal Muhammad's victory over Leon Edwards was facilitated by Edwards' passive strategy, which allowed Muhammad to control the pace of the fight; this insight has informed Della Maddalena's preparation to maintain aggression and capitalize on damage accumulation.

Confident in his preparation, Della Maddalena plans to counter Muhammad's wrestling and cardio strength by enduring the fight's duration and aiming to increase pressure and inflict damage as the rounds progress.

Should he win the title, Della Maddalena expresses a strong desire to defend it in Australia, potentially against Shavkat Rakhmonov, who is recovering from injury, fulfilling a dream of bringing the title back home.

Every fighter in the upper reaches of the UFC rankings has their own unique path to the top. Few, however, begin their professional careers 0-2.

While many would have called it a day at that point, Jack Della Maddalena was undeterred, coming together with coach Ben Vickers to set a goal of 10 straight wins.

Fast forward five years, his 10th consecutive victory also earned the Western Australian a UFC contract, as he scored a dominant win over Ange Loosa on Dana White’s Contender Series.

MORE: ‘He hasn’t fought anybody like me’: Muhammad dismisses JDM ahead of UFC 315

With that goal achieved, JDM and Vickers came up with a new target - a UFC title.

Now, ahead of UFC 315 in Montreal this weekend, the Aussie is on the cusp of ticking off his greatest achievement yet, with welterweight champion Belal Muhammad the final hurdle to overcome.

“I think it was very important. Losing, obviously you learn a lot,” Della Maddalena told Sporting News of the inauspicious start to his pro career.

“You learn a lot about yourself, you make tweaks and you figure out what you needed to do to win. 

“They were tough fights, I didn’t really have a big amateur career and just got thrown in there against good guys.

“If I had won those two fights and then just kept winning and then lost down the track, maybe I’d have lost motivation, but kicking off with those two losses, it was only uphill from there. I think they were blessings.”

Ahead of a maiden world title challenge, Della Maddalena’s record now stands at a far more formidable 17-2.

The 28-year-old may have to overcome some ring rust against Muhammad, having spent more than a year out of action after his comeback win over Gilbert Burns last March.

Della Maddalena broke his arm in that fight before surgery, infection and more surgeries sidelined him for several months.

MORE: How Della Maddalena's title shot could reshape future of UFC

That gave him the opportunity to have a close look at Muhammad’s title-winning victory over Leon Edwards.

“It was a good win. Leon just didn’t do enough,” he said.

“He was too much on the back foot and he gave Belal pretty much a layup, I thought. He did exactly what you shouldn’t do against Belal Muhammad.

“Belal’s a very good fighter and he finds ways to win against the best guys and I think Leon just didn’t do enough, sat too much on the back foot, didn’t push the pace enough, but a solid victory.”

With the homework done and countless hours in the gym behind him, Della Maddalena is confident he’s got the tools to overcome the elite cardio and wrestling of the Chicago native.

“As the fight goes on, I’ll be the one landing more damage,” he said.

“His style is more about dragging you down, holding you down and trying to make you work by getting back to your feet, but I think the longer the fight goes, I’ll be able to physically damage him. 

“As that damage compiles, it’s going to slow him down. Deeper in the fight I might be able to take him out.

“Obviously we’ve been working worst-case scenario, on my back, bad submissions, the whole lot, getting back to my feet. 

“All in all, the perfect fight would be stuffing the takedowns over and over again and stinging him.”

And once he gets his hand raised, Della Maddalena is happy to take on number one contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who is currently sidelined with injury, in his first defence, hopefully, back home in Perth.

“To bring the title back to Australia and hopefully be able to defend it in Perth would be just a dream,” he said.

“Stuff I was visualising and believing it would come true and now I’m living it out.”