Jack Della Maddalena could not think of a better way than to impress the UFC brass by performing on The Contender Series.
That said, the Australian welterweight has witnessed the gift and the curse that the show has provided for many of the fighters who gained entry into the UFC after Dana White deemed them worthy of a multi-fight deal with the promotion.
While The Contender Series may be a prominent way for the UFC to attract attention, it is not without its risks. However, many athletes have fallen and fallen after being faced with better opponents inside the UFC.
He doesn’t let that stop Della Maddalena. He is open to any expectations being set for him as he prepares to make his UFC 270. debut.
” I was very happy with the way that I got in,” Della Maddalena said to MMA Fighting. “It was good to get into the Contender Series, sort of see the UFC but not actually be in the UFC. It felt like a UFC fight but it wasn’t actually a UFC fight. For us, sort of everything worked out perfectly and now to have the UFC debut just around the corner, everything seems to be falling into place.
“I’m stoked with the extra [attention]. More eyes are better. I know what I can do and I know what I’m going to do. My style is definitely my way. I will do it the same way. I will keep my fights exciting until the very end. It’s up to me to perform, fight the way I want to fight, and hope everyone enjoys it .”
Although there are no set rules regarding how fighters will be selected for UFC contracts through The Contender Series’, most choose to go the flashy route of a knockout or jaw-dropping submission.
In Della Maddalena’s case, he actually went to a decision with opponent Ange Loosa before White called his name and as much as he would have loved a highlight reel finish, he sees a lot of value in the 15 minutes he spent in the cage before then making his UFC debut.
“I was hoping before the fight to get that knockout,” Della Maddalena explained. “Even straight after the fight, I wanted to get the knockout but looking back and even like an hour after the fight, I realized it was probably better to get those three rounds in in those specific circumstances.
“I got three rounds in and got tested in all different facets of mixed martial arts. It turned out to be a blessing for us to get those three rounds in rather than get my first three rounds in the UFC. This will be familiar to me in UFC .”
From the time that he competed on his home circuit, Della Maddalena was known for his fan-friendly fights and rare occasions when the judges were involved.
He very much hopes to produce the same kind of results in the UFC but Della Maddalena is smart enough to understand that the only way he can guarantee his future in the promotion is through winning.
So that’s exactly what he plans to do starting with his fight against Pete Rodriguez on Saturday night.
” My style of fighting is going to produce exciting fights,” Della Maddalena stated. Even if it’s a dull fight, I don’t really care about what anybody thinks.
” As long as I win. It’s a blessing that my style can bring these kinds of thrilling fights. It’s the way I train to fight. I couldn’t think any other way that I wouldn’t fight like that.”
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