It's been a while, but Jack Della Maddalena finally gets to fight at home again this week.

The last time Della Maddalena fought in Perth in his native Western Australia, he delivered in a big way with his third straight performance bonus and his first submission win in the UFC. JDM tapped Randy Brown with a rear-naked choke in early 2023 at UFC 284.

This week, he's back – and he's got the pressure of not online main eventing at home, but trying to rebound from the most crucial loss of his career.

In the UFC Fight Night 275 headliner in Perth, Western Australia, Della Maddalena (18-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) takes on Carlos Prates (23-7 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in a welterweight showdown that has title implications. Della Maddalena will be trying to bounce back from his title loss to Islam Makhachev, who moved up from lightweight to become a two-division champ. And Prates is seeking his third straight win – and a very possible title shot if he can beat an ex-champ on the road.

But Della Maddalena said he just has to keep his home comforts in check and remember the task at hand.

"It's been incredible just be able to do the whole camp at home, sleep in my own bed, and then come Saturday, put on a good show for the hometown," Della Maddalena said Thursday at the pre-fight news conference for the event at RAC Arena in Perth. "I can't wait. It's business as usual, but obviously extra pressure (at home).

"But pressure makes good performances – and that's what's coming."

Della Maddalena's loss to Makhachev was a lopsided one. The Dagestani ex-lightweight champ outgrappled the Australian for 25 stifling minutes at UFC 322 this past November in New York. Della Maddalena came into the title fight with six bonuses in his first eight UFC fights, but had very little to offer in his first attempted title defense.

He knows, though, that a win over Prates could have him right back in the mix immediately.

"I've just got to be extremely focused and come in there, be smart, and push a high pace and go for it," Della Maddalena said.

Check out the full UFC Perth pre-fight news conference above.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jack Della Maddalena has guarded optimism for UFC Perth home fight