Jack Della Maddalena's coach: UFC 322 loss 'hurts like hell'
Jack Della Maddalena’s coach, Ben Vickers, admits losing the welterweight title at UFC 322 stings.
Della Maddalena (18-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) was dominated in a clean-sweep unanimous decision loss to Islam Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) this past Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Aussie had no answers for the wrestling of Makhachev, who had more than 19 minutes of control time on the ground.
Vickers was seen trying to urge his fighter in between rounds, but Della Maddalena looked dejected. Regardless of the outcome, Vickers vowed his star pupil will be back in an Instagram post.
“I am more proud of a Jack and the team today than ever before. True, we didn’t get the marbles but we dared to dream and took our shot. It hurts. It hurts like hell but we aren’t defined by this sport it’s just what we love to do.
“We have felt all the support and love over the last couple weeks and decades and it means the world. I love Jack and the Team and I love Scrappy MMA and our community.
“I’ll see you all on the mats as soon as I’m back in glorious P Town.
“And rest assured, this is the beginning not the end!”
The loss to Makhachev marked Della Maddalena’s first in the octagon. Prior to that, Della Maddalena snapped Belal Muhammad’s 11-fight unbeaten streak to claim the UFC welterweight title.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jack Della Maddalena’s coach candidly reacts to UFC 322 loss
