UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena is hours away from making his first title defense against Islam Makhachev at UFC 322. After winning the title earlier this year, Maddalena will look to hand Makhachev his second career setback and start a new era in the welterweight division.
Regardless of who wins this weekend, Maddalena and Makhachev have a slew of top contenders making a strong case for the next title shot. But one top prospect, Shavkat Rakhmonov, remains sidelined due to injury, and the timeline for a return is uncertain.
Whenever Rakhmonov returns to competition, Maddalena doesn’t believe the undefeated competitor deserves a title shot.
Shavkat Rakhmonov and Jack Della Maddalena alternate for UFC 322
In a recent interview with MMA fightingMaddalena was asked about Rakhmonov’s position in the division and gave a brutally honest answer.
“It’s hard for me to say,” Della Maddalena said of Rakhmonov. “I think the division has gone further. If you stay inactive, you kind of fall behind. I think that’s where it is.”
“Someone like Sean Brady has been so active, Ian Garry, these guys are very active. How can Shavkat stay in that top position when these guys are fighting guys? It’s a tough call, but I’ll just do what I’m told. Whoever is next is whoever the UFC tells me is next.”
In a recent post on XRakhmonov hit back at Maddalena’s comments.
“The only reason you got that title shot was my injury,” Rakhmonov said.
“Funny how you forgot that you had been inactive for almost fourteen months before that [FACE PALM].”
Rakhmonov has not fought since his unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310 last December. He has defeated the likes of Geoff Neal, Stephen Thompson and Neil Magny during his career.
At the time of writing, Maddalena has not responded to Rakhmonov’s comments.
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