Bo Nickal has delivered a stunning head kick, downing Rodolfo Vieira with a performance coined his “greatest ever” by UFC legend Daniel Cormer.
After putting in a mountain of work with his hands, Nickal had a look up top and connected in bone-rattling fashion with his opponent falling flat on the canvas.
“Bo Nickal lighting him up… man that was nasty,” Cormier said.
UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev | SUN 16 NOV 2PM AEDT | Australia’s own Jack Della Maddalena puts his welterweight title on the line against Pound for Pound great and former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev in a blockbuster night of fights, live from New York City. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
“Statement made tonight,” Jon Anik added.
Nickal then made his feelings to the Madison Square Garden crowd clear, putting up his rude finger while celebrating.
The American’s win comes after a loss to Reinier de Ridder in May, going down by knockout after a second round knee.
However, Joe Rogan believed he lived up to his “unbelievable potential” on Sunday afternoon.
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JDM BACKED BY UFC COLLEAGUES
Jack Della Maddalena is being heavily backed by the UFC roster to score a historic Madison Square Garden upset this Sunday – although a handful of fighters have warned the “basic” Australian is set to be finished by Islam Makhachev.
Only six months after winning UFC welterweight gold in a huge upset, JDM is now looking to defend for the first time against Dagestani bogeyman Makhachev.
While the Perth native is currently the defending champion, and on a tear stretching nine years and 18 straight fights, bookmakers have already wound him wider than $3, while Makhachev sits at $1.45.
However when it comes to the predictions of the UFC roster, many are leaning towards the champ.
Speaking at UFC 322 media day, those backing JDM to retain included Beneil Dariush, Sean Brady, Carlos Prates, Michael Morales and Rodolfo Vieira.
Those picking Makhachev were Leon Edwards, Malcolm Wellmaker and Roman Kopylov, while UFC bantamweight star Sean O’Malley also tipped the title to change hands on his Youtube Channel.
“I’m going to go with Islam,” O’Malley said. “I just think he’s going to squeak out a close fight. I hate guessing fights, man. I hate guessing fights, but I’m going to go with Islam.”
Another backing against Maddalena is No.7 ranked welterweight Joaquin Buckley, who says Maddalena is set to be finished in the third, either via submission or TKO.
“JDM has massive knockout power, has excellent boxing, excellent striking — but that ain’t going to mean nothing when you’re on your back,” Buckley said.
“So Islam, immediately, he’s going to push him up against the cage, he’s going to take him down to the canvas, and he’s going to hold him there as long as he can.
“But you [also] know, Islam, he’s not just going to hold you down and just wait for the decision.
“He’s a finisher.
“And with the amount of weapons he has – the D’Arce, the anaconda, the head-and-arm chokes – he’s coming for that neck.
“So JDM, if he’s unable to keep the fight from going to the ground, he’s finished. He’s done.”
Speaking at media day in New York this week however, Dariush was among a large group of fighters backing the champ.
“If JDM comes in and is able to establish his fix like he did with Belal [Muhammad], and establish his range, I think he’s going to be a really difficult fight for Makhachev,” he said.
“And Makhachev adjusting to 170, might not be that easy.
“I know it’s easier to go up in weight, but adjusting isn’t that simple. So I’m going to lean JDM, although not by much.”
Edwards, meanwhile, was giving the slight edge to Makhachev.
JDM eyes “blood and glory” in Title bout | 02:49
“I keep on going back and forth,” he started. “It depends on how Islam looks at 170, and if he comes out and heavy wrestle, I’d probably give the edge to Islam. But I feel like we will know from the first round how the fight is going to go.
“I feel if JDM does get taken down, it [won’t be] his fight.
“But he is great at getting back to his feet and puts on a pace straight away. And Islam has shown cardo issues in the past. So I dunno, I’m still 50/50.”
Elsewhere this week, others quoted backing JDM to retain via upset Michael Chandler, Chris Barnett and Mario Bautista.
Asked for his prediction on The Ariel Helwani Show, Chandler started of Maddalena: “He’s not much of a puzzle. He’s pretty basic.
“But he is brilliant and violent, and devastating with the basics.
“[He has] a little bit of range, a little bit of reach on Islam.
“It’s going to be the dichotomy between JDM’s great striking abilities and is his takedown defence enough to stop the onslaught of wrestling that Islam’s going to bring?
“I do think even the standup battle against (Dustin) Poirier, Poirier does hit hard because I’ve witnessed that and felt it firsthand.
Jack Della Maddalena reacts following his win over Belal Muhammad.Source: AP
“But there’s no way he hits as hard as JDM.
“It’s going to be interesting.
“I think Islam’s going to get tagged up a couple times, and we’re going to see if he goes to that wrestling pretty quick.
“But I think JDM’s a monster. I give JDM the slight nod on that one, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if Islam is holding that belt.”
Elsewhere, UFC heavyweight Chris Barnett was also quoted backing the champ.
“I think Jack Della Maddalena gets the win,” he said. “We saw Volk give Islam some problems, and I think Jack is similar and a lot bigger, so I think he can stuff the takedowns and control him on the feet.”
UFC bantamweight Bautista added on BJ Penn.com: “I’m going to go with Jack to pull off the upset. I think the size will play a role.”
Brady said: “I was leaning Islam at first, but I do think JDM is gonna get it done. I think he creates enough scrambles. He’s gonna get taken down, but I think he’s gonna be able to get back to his feet and potentially knock out Islam.”
BLANCHFIELD’S SUBMISSION VICTORY
Erin Blanchfield has delivered an impressive submission victory, stopping Tracy Cortez with a rear-naked choke in the closing seconds of the second round.
In both her appearances at Madison Square Garden, Blanchfield has now won by submission and she was proud to be fighting on the same card as superstar Valentina Shevchenko.
Blanchfield has now avenged a loss earlier in her career to Cortez, with that pair fighting in the same weight class as the co-main event.
Cortez’s record now sits at 12 wins and three losses, having also gone down to Rose Namajunas, a fighter Blanchfield bested in her most recent outing prior to this fight.
A fight for the title now looms for Blanchfield, depending on the result between Shevchenko and Zhang Weili.
BIG JDM PREDICTION
Jack Della Maddalena is being tipped to become “the biggest star of Australian sports” with a win at UFC 322, and with Dana White almost certain to gift the knockabout champ a blockbuster Perth homecoming in victory.
The declaration comes as Australia’s UFC welterweight champ has also promised to deliver “blood and glory” in Sunday’s Madison Square Garden blockbuster against hyped Dagestani bogeyman Islam Makhachev.
Only six months after winning UFC welterweight gold in an upset against Belal Muhammad, JDM is now looking to double down in one of the toughest first up defences in Octagon history.
Despite being on an undefeated tear stretching nine years and 18 fights, Maddalena enters the New York headliner as a more than $3 underdog.
Makhachev, meanwhile, remains around $1.45 in what will be his first appearance since vacating the UFC lightweight crown.
However, following an intense final face off with Makhachev at the ceremonial weigh-ins — in which JDM immediately jumped into a fight stance after leaving the scales — the Aussie promised more was coming in the UFC 322 headliner.
“I’m going in there to impose my game plan, push the pace and dig deep,” he said. “I’m coming for blood and glory”.
Asked what was said by Makhachev during their final showdown, the champ grinned: “I don’t even know what he said, I was just trying to keep him away from me … show him what’s up, show him what he’s going to be eating tomorrow night”.
While JDM may be one of the UFC’s most humble champions, the 29-year-old has been given the rockstar treatment here in New York this week – including having his image beamed large on a Times Square billboard.
Should Maddalena earn an MSG boilover, it is understood UFC executives have already discussed his next defence being on a huge 2026 pay-per-view event in Perth.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, UFC executive Peter Kloczko also tipped a ‘Della’ victory to catapult him up among national stars like Josh Giddey, Oscar Piastri, Sam Kerr, and Reece Walsh.
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START TIME: What time does JDM make his octagon walk for the title fight?
“Because Jack isn’t only quintessentially Australian,” Kloczko says, “but capable of becoming the biggest star of Australian sports.
“Truly, he has it all.
“Not only in terms of what he brings to the Octagon, or how he competes, but how he handles himself everywhere.
“A win this Sunday will be a real breakthrough moment for him.
“Not only to becoming the top fighter in Australia, but one of the top sporting stars that we have.”
Certainly JDM is ready to do his part.
Quizzed this week on throwing down against a rival many consider the UFC’s pound-for-pound No.1, Maddalena said: “It’s a big challenge in a pretty iconic venue.
“It’s coming home!” JDM’s final face off | 02:07
“So I’m excited to go out there and leave some of myself in MSG.”
And as for Makhachev having said there is nobody in the welterweight division who can challenge him?
“We’ll see,” the champ continued. “I believe I’ve got the skills and I believe I can compete with tough fighters.
“So if he’s not expecting a tough fight, he’s going to be in for a rude awakening.
“This is a massive legacy fight [for me].
“Islam is one of the greatest fighters ever.
“It’s going to be a good scalp on the resume.”
UFC boss White has also suggested Maddalena’s life is set to change forever with a win on Sunday, while also admitting surprise at how many people are counting the champion out.
White said he had spoken with representatives of Polymarket, a prediction market company, who revealed to him that 78 per cent of fans were backing Makhachev.
“So it’s like Jack is getting no respect,” he said. “The guy hasn’t lost in 10 years, is on an 18-fight win streak and just beat Belal Muhammad, who gave everybody hell.
“This fight is a lot closer than people are giving it credit for.”
And if Maddalena does go and cause an upset?
“This is the fight of his life,” White continued. “He wins this, you’ll see it flip.
“If he wins this weekend, he’s beaten one of the greatest of all time.
“A guy who tried to move up and take his belt of him.
“This will solidify him as the real deal.
“So Jack might feel disrespected today, but his whole life will change on Sunday if he beats Islam Makhachev.”
