"It hurts like hell" - Jack Della Maddalena's coach breaks silence on Islam Makhachev title loss at UFC 322 

Jack Della Maddalena's head coach, Ben Vickers, recently addressed Islam Makhachev becoming the new welterweight champion. The veteran MMA trainer expressed his appreciation for the supportive fans and admitted that the loss "hurt like hell."

Della Maddalena went up against Makhachev in a welterweight title fight in the main event of UFC 322 last weekend in New York City. While many expected the Australian to test Makhachev thoroughly, the Dagestani grappling maestro dominated the five-round contest and ultimately got his hand raised via unanimous decision to take home the 170-pound belt.

In an Instagram post, coach Vickers addressed his pupil losing the title fight to Makhachev and wrote:

I am more proud of 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."

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He continued:

"We have felt all the support and love over the last couple of 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."

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Top lightweight contender reacts to Jack Della Maddalena losing to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322

Arman Tsarukyan recently shared his thoughts on Islam Makhachev's title win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 and expressed his reaction to the Dagestani grappler's dominance in the cage.

In an interview with Red Corner MMA (via @RedCorner_MMA on X), Tsarukyan opened up about the Makhachev-Della Maddalena fight and said:

"No, I thought Jack would be able to defend some takedown and get up from the ground. But he could do absolutely nothing. Islam showed he was on another level. He nullified all his strong attributes and just dominated."

Edited by Nishant Zende.