Jack Della Maddalena Bio
Giacomo “Jack” Della Maddalena, widely known by his initials JDM, is an Australian professional mixed martial artist born on 10 September 1996 in Perth, Western Australia. He competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is a former UFC Welterweight Champion. Trained out of Scrappy MMA in Perth, Della Maddalena has built a reputation as a dangerous striker with strong grappling credentials. Outside the cage he is recognized for his disciplined work ethic and his connection to Western Australian fight culture.
Standing 5 ft 11 in tall with a 73 in reach, Della Maddalena holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under coach Ben Vickers. He turned professional in 2016 and has since become one of Australia’s most prominent UFC stars. His career reflects steady progression from local shows to championship glory at the highest level of mixed martial arts.
Early Life and Background
Giacomo Della Maddalena was born on 10 September 1996 in Perth, Western Australia, into a family of Australian and Italian heritage. One of his grandfathers is from Sardinia, which gives him a proud Italian Australian background. He grew up in a sport-loving household that shaped his competitive nature from an early age.
He attended St. Kevin’s College in Melbourne before returning to Perth and finishing his schooling at Aquinas College. While at St Kevin’s, Della Maddalena was a classmate and close friend of Henry Hutchison, an Australian Rugby sevens player who went on to compete at the Olympic Games. He is also an avid supporter of the Wallabies, the Australian national rugby union team, and the Fremantle Dockers of the Australian Football League.
Della Maddalena began playing rugby at the age of eight and represented his school teams from year six through year twelve. Inspired by his older brother Josh, he joined a boxing gym at fourteen to improve his conditioning for the rugby season. He quickly fell in love with combat sports, and once his rugby career wrapped up he committed fully to mixed martial arts training.
Path to MMA
After committing to combat sports, Della Maddalena began formal mixed martial arts training in his mid teens and developed a well rounded skill set that combined striking from his boxing base with high level grappling. He earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under coach Ben Vickers, a credential that reflected years of dedicated mat work and competition. Training out of Perth helped him build a tough, balanced style suited to the welterweight division.
He made his professional debut on 12 March 2016 against Aldin Bates, losing that fight by technical knockout in the third round. He dropped a second bout to Darcy Vendy by first round submission before launching a nine fight winning streak on the Australian regional circuit. During that run he captured the Eternal Welterweight Championship and defended the title four times, establishing himself as one of the country’s most promising welterweight prospects.
On 14 September 2021, Della Maddalena was invited to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series 39, where he faced Congolese fighter Ange Loosa. He won the bout by unanimous decision and was awarded a UFC contract, officially launching his path to the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion.
Jack Della Maddalena Career
Early UFC Career (2022–2023)
Della Maddalena was originally scheduled to make his UFC debut against Warlley Alves at UFC 270 in January 2022, but Alves withdrew and was replaced by promotional newcomer Pete Rodriguez. Della Maddalena announced himself immediately, winning the bout by first round technical knockout. He followed that performance with another first round TKO of Ramazan Emeev at UFC 275 in June 2022, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus.
He kept his momentum rolling with a first round technical knockout of Danny Roberts at UFC Fight Night in November 2022, earning a second consecutive Performance of the Night award. In February 2023 at UFC 284, he submitted Randy Brown in the opening round, collecting a third Performance of the Night bonus and cementing his status as one of the welterweight division’s most exciting finishers.
Climbing the Welterweight Ranks (2023–2024)
After a planned bout with Sean Brady fell through due to injury, Della Maddalena faced Bassil Hafez at UFC Fight Night in July 2023 and won a split decision that also earned Fight of the Night honors for both competitors. He followed that with a split decision win over Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night 227 in September 2023, a bout where sixteen of sixteen media scorecards sided with the Australian, underlining his rising stock.
In March 2024 at UFC 299, Della Maddalena faced veteran Gilbert Burns and delivered one of his signature performances, stopping Burns by technical knockout in the third round to earn another Performance of the Night award. That win pushed him firmly into welterweight title contention and set the stage for his first championship opportunity.
UFC Championship Era (2025)
Della Maddalena was originally scheduled to face former champion Leon Edwards in March 2025, but he was pulled from that bout to challenge Belal Muhammad for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 315 on 10 May 2025. He won the championship by unanimous decision in a dominant performance and added a Fight of the Night bonus to his growing list of accolades. The victory made him only the second Australian to hold the UFC Welterweight Championship.
On 28 August 2025 it was announced that he would defend his title against former UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 on 15 November 2025. Della Maddalena lost the championship by unanimous decision in a high profile showdown between champions from different weight classes. The loss did not diminish his standing, as he remained one of the division’s top ranked competitors.
Style and Strengths
Della Maddalena is known as a precise and powerful striker with a boxing first foundation sharpened through years of dedicated pad work and sparring. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Ben Vickers gives him a credible submission game and the confidence to mix grappling exchanges with striking. The partnership with his Scrappy MMA team and coach Ben Vickers has shaped his calm, composed approach under pressure and his ability to adapt mid fight.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments are his first round stoppage of Pete Rodriguez on his UFC debut, his third round finish of Gilbert Burns at UFC 299, and his unanimous decision victory over Belal Muhammad to claim the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 315. His bout with Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 marked his first pay per view main event and one of the most talked about champion versus champion fights of the year.
Jack Della Maddalena Career Wins
Across his professional career, Jack Della Maddalena has compiled an impressive resume spanning the Australian regional scene and the UFC welterweight division. He captured the Eternal Welterweight Championship, defended it four times, and later added the UFC Welterweight Championship to his trophy case. His finishing rate inside the UFC, combined with several bonus awards, highlights his ability to deliver memorable performances on the sport’s biggest stage.
UFC Welterweight Highlights
Della Maddalena made his UFC debut in January 2022 and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to a string of first round finishes. He earned Performance of the Night bonuses for stoppage wins over Ramazan Emeev, Danny Roberts, and Randy Brown, and later added a Fight of the Night bonus for his split decision battle with Bassil Hafez. His biggest UFC win came at UFC 315 on 10 May 2025, when he defeated Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision to claim the UFC Welterweight Championship and the accompanying Fight of the Night award.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Della Maddalena built a nine fight winning streak on the Australian regional circuit, capturing and defending the Eternal Welterweight Championship. He also impressed on Dana White’s Contender Series 39 in September 2021, earning a UFC contract with a unanimous decision win over Ange Loosa. Those performances laid the foundation for his rapid rise through the welterweight ranks.
Jack Della Maddalena Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Della Maddalena was raised in a family of Australian and Italian descent, with one of his grandfathers originally from Sardinia. His older brother Josh played a key role in his early sporting life by introducing him to a boxing gym when he was fourteen. That introduction sparked his lifelong passion for combat sports and ultimately led him toward mixed martial arts.
Personal Life
Jack Della Maddalena continues to reside in Perth, Western Australia, where he trains out of Scrappy MMA. He remains closely connected to his hometown and frequently represents Western Australia on the international stage. He maintains a strong friendship with former schoolmate Henry Hutchison, the Australian Rugby sevens international he met while attending St. Kevin’s College in Melbourne.
2025 Season Performance
Jack Della Maddalena’s 2025 campaign was the most consequential of his professional career. After several years of finishing performances inside the UFC welterweight division, he earned his first shot at undisputed gold and made the most of it. He captured the UFC Welterweight Championship with a unanimous decision victory over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 on 10 May 2025, earning a Fight of the Night bonus and cementing his place among Australia’s greatest mixed martial artists.
Following his title win, Della Maddalena accepted a champion versus champion showdown with former UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 on 15 November 2025. He ultimately lost the championship by unanimous decision in a grueling contest, yet his willingness to take the fight showcased his confidence and ambition. The loss reset his path back toward the top of the welterweight ladder and set up a new chapter for his career.
Looking beyond 2025, Della Maddalena remains a central figure in the UFC welterweight picture. His mix of striking precision, grappling pedigree, and experience in five round championship bouts positions him as a threat to any contender. With Scrappy MMA and coach Ben Vickers in his corner, he is expected to be in the title mix for years to come.
