Jack Della Maddalena Bio
Giacomo “Jack” Della Maddalena, widely recognized by his initials JDM, is an Australian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Born on 10 September 1996 in Perth, Western Australia, Della Maddalena has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport, combining sharp boxing with a finishing instinct inside the octagon. A former UFC Welterweight Champion, he has been ranked among the top contenders in the 170-pound division and has also broken into the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Early Life and Background
Giacomo Della Maddalena was born on 10 September 1996 in Perth, Western Australia, into a family of Australian and Italian descent, with one of his grandfathers originally from Sardinia. He attended Aquinas College in Perth and later St. Kevin’s College in Melbourne, Victoria, completing his schooling in two of Australia’s most respected Catholic institutions. Outside of combat sports, Della Maddalena is a passionate supporter of the Australian national rugby union team, the Wallabies, and follows the Fremantle Dockers in the Australian Football League.
At the age of eight, Della Maddalena began playing rugby and represented his school from year six through year twelve, developing the physical toughness and discipline that would later shape his fighting career. When his older brother Josh joined a boxing gym, Della Maddalena followed at fourteen, originally training to improve his fitness for the upcoming rugby season. The decision changed the course of his life, as he quickly fell in love with the striking arts and channeled that passion into a serious commitment to combat sports.
Path to MMA
After his rugby career came to an end, Della Maddalena transitioned into full-time mixed martial arts training, sharpening the boxing fundamentals he had already built and expanding into grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has since earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, reflecting years of dedicated mat work alongside his striking development. Training out of Perth, he established himself with the Scrappy MMA team, the gym that has been central to his growth as a complete mixed martial artist.
Della Maddalena made his professional debut on 12 March 2016 against Aldin Bates, losing the contest by TKO in the third round, and followed that with a first-round submission loss to Darcy Vendy. The early setbacks motivated a rapid development phase, and he strung together a nine-fight winning streak while capturing the Eternal Welterweight Championship and defending it four times. His breakout run on the regional Australian scene earned him an invitation to Dana White’s Contender Series 39 on 14 September 2021, where a unanimous decision victory over Ange Loosa secured him a UFC contract.
Jack Della Maddalena Career
Early Career (2016–2021)
Della Maddalena’s early professional years were spent building a foundation on the Australian regional circuit, where he absorbed two early lessons and quickly bounced back with a lengthy unbeaten run. By capturing the Eternal Welterweight Championship and defending it on four occasions, he demonstrated the consistency and finishing ability that UFC scouts were looking for. His performances outside the major leagues also gave him the chance to sharpen his striking combinations, improve his grappling defense, and develop the calm octagon temperament that would later define his UFC tenure.
His appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series represented the culmination of years of work on the regional scene. The unanimous decision win over Ange Loosa signaled to the UFC that he was ready for the biggest stage in mixed martial arts, and the resulting contract launched his international career.
UFC Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Della Maddalena made his UFC debut on 22 January 2022 at UFC 270, originally scheduled against Warlley Alves before Pete Rodriguez stepped in as a replacement. He announced himself in emphatic fashion, winning by TKO in the first round. He followed that with another first-round TKO of Ramazan Emeev at UFC 275, a performance that earned him the Performance of the Night award. A technical knockout of Danny Roberts in November 2022 at UFC Fight Night brought him a second consecutive Performance of the Night bonus, confirming his status as a fast-rising finisher.
In 2023, Della Maddalena extended his run with a first-round submission of Randy Brown at UFC 284, securing yet another Performance of the Night award, and later earned a Fight of the Night bonus in a split decision victory over Bassil Hafez at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Bueno Silva. His unanimous decision win over Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night 227 was notable for the fact that all 16 media scorecards sided with the Australian. He closed the year with a third-round TKO of Gilbert Burns at UFC 299, picking up another Performance of the Night award and cementing his place as a top welterweight contender.
UFC Welterweight Championship Era (2025)
Della Maddalena’s ascent reached its peak on 10 May 2025 at UFC 315, where he faced Belal Muhammad for the UFC Welterweight Championship. In a poised, technical performance, he captured the title by unanimous decision and added a Fight of the Night bonus to his growing list of post-fight awards. The victory made him one of only a handful of Australians to hold a UFC championship, reinforcing his standing on the global stage.
On 28 August 2025, it was announced that Della Maddalena would defend his title against former UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 on 15 November 2025. The bout ended with Della Maddalena losing the championship by unanimous decision, ending his reign but keeping him firmly in the title picture.
Driving Style and Strengths
Della Maddalena is widely regarded for his crisp boxing, sharp counterstriking, and underrated grappling credentials, with a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt underpinning his ground game. His calm composure in high-pressure moments, paired with his accuracy and power in the pocket, has made him a difficult matchup for fellow welterweights, and he has developed a strong partnership with his Scrappy MMA coaching team.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his UFC debut TKO over Pete Rodriguez, his three-round war with Kevin Holland that saw all 16 media scorecards favor him, his third-round stoppage of Gilbert Burns at UFC 299, and his UFC 315 title-winning performance over Belal Muhammad. Multiple Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night awards highlight his consistent ability to deliver inside the octagon.
Jack Della Maddalena Career Wins
Across his professional career, Della Maddalena has compiled 18 wins in 21 professional bouts, with victories spanning the Australian regional scene and the UFC. His finishes have come by knockout, submission, and decision, and he has collected multiple Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses along the way.
UFC Highlights
His UFC run has produced stoppages of Pete Rodriguez, Ramazan Emeev, Danny Roberts, Randy Brown, and Gilbert Burns, plus decision wins over Bassil Hafez, Kevin Holland, and Belal Muhammad. The Muhammad victory at UFC 315 stands as his most significant result to date, while his Burns performance marked his arrival as a genuine top-tier welterweight.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Della Maddalena captured the Eternal Welterweight Championship and defended it four times during a nine-fight winning streak that established him as one of Australia’s premier regional talents. His Dana White’s Contender Series victory over Ange Loosa was the bridge between the regional and international phases of his career.
Jack Della Maddalena Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Della Maddalena comes from a family of Australian and Italian heritage, with one of his grandfathers originally from Sardinia. His older brother Josh played a pivotal role in his fighting journey, as joining the boxing gym that Josh trained in introduced Jack to the striking arts and ultimately redirected his athletic career toward mixed martial arts.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Della Maddalena continues to reside in his hometown, where he trains out of the Scrappy MMA gym. He is an avid follower of rugby union and Australian rules football, supporting the Wallabies and the Fremantle Dockers in his time away from competition.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign represented the high point of Della Maddalena’s career to date, beginning with the long-anticipated booking against Leon Edwards that was ultimately redirected into a title shot. Stepping in for that bout, he faced Belal Muhammad for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 315 on 10 May 2025 and produced a composed, controlled performance to win the belt by unanimous decision, adding a Fight of the Night bonus in the process.
The latter half of the year brought a major test in the form of Islam Makhachev, a former UFC Lightweight Champion moving up in weight, and the matchup was confirmed for UFC 322 on 15 November 2025. Della Maddalena lost the contest by unanimous decision, surrendering the championship but reinforcing his place among the elite of the welterweight division. With his ranking intact and the new champion established at the top of the division, the focus turns to his next move and the path back to title contention.