UFC welterweight title challenger Jack Della Maddalena is struggling to pay for his team to fly out for his upcoming title fight.
UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad will make his first-career title defense against the promotion-unbeaten Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May. Muhammad, who was supposed to headline UFC 310 in December against Shavkat Rakhmonov, returns after winning the championship over Leon Edwards at UFC 304.
Maddalena got the UFC 315 title shot despite Rakhmonov and Sean Brady making recent strong cases to be Muhammad’s first title defense opponent. But Maddalena possesses star quality and an exciting style that he’ll look to utilize to dethrone the welterweight champion.
Despite the obvious excitement of preparing to fight for a UFC title, Maddalena is dealing with some unexpected hurdles in his UFC 315 camp.
Jack Della Maddalena’s UFC 315 fundraiser reignites fighter pay debate
Just weeks ahead of UFC 315, Maddalena announced a fundraiser to raise money to fly his full team out for fight week by teaming up with a Western Australia bar and grill, The Riverton Bar and Grill. Fans can donate for a chance to grab a drink and a meal with Maddalena before his title fight.
But the objective behind Maddalena’s fundraising infuriated fight fans, accusing Dana White of financially stiffing one of the welterweight division’s top talents.
After Maddalena’s fundraiser made the rounds online, fight fans didn’t react kindly.
“Its absolutely insane that someone fighting for a UFC championship has to do fund-raisers to get their team to the fight. UFC should be covering this,” one fan wrote on Instagram.
“Actually crazy how Dana be gambling millions but can’t pay for fighter flights,” another said.
“[Dana White], are you not embarrassed? Look how you treat the 170 division now that Usman Leon and Colby are on losing streaks.”
“Love Jack but the UFC should be paying for your whole team to go to Montreal and plus some? You’re fighting for the title!?!”
“Jack Della Maddalena is about to fight for the UFC welterweight championship and the UFC can’t even both to help pay for the dude and his team’s flights…”
“This is so f—— pathetic from Dana White and the UFC. Della Maddalena has fundraised money for his team to make the trip for a TITLE FIGHT. All so Dana can bet $1M every night at the casino. Absolute scumbag s—. He’d be embarrassed if he could experience empathy.”
“Fighter having to sell chicken plates to fundraise and bring his whole team to title fight while UFC is clearing half a billi in free cash flow….make it make sense….”
This isn’t the first time that fighter pay has been at the front and center of fans’ minds ahead of a marquee fight. During Francis Ngannou‘s long contract dispute with the UFC from 2021-2023, many blamed White and the promotion’s negotiation tactics for the Jon Jones fight not coming to fruition.
Ngannou left the promotion in early 2023 and signed with the PFL, where he returned to MMA last year against Renan Ferreira. Despite his UFC leave, he remains highly critical of the UFC and its business practices.
Belal Muhammad downplays ‘basic’ Jack Della Maddalena before UFC 315 clash
Muhammad doesn’t believe Maddalena will present much of a challenge in the Octagon when they meet in May. Muhammad, regarded by many as one of the best grapplers in mixed martial arts, promises to showcase ‘Canelo hands’ and outbox Maddalena.
If Muhammad gets past Maddalena, he could face a familiar foe for his next title defense. Brady recently earned a massive win over Edwards at UFC London, all but securing a title shot for his next booking.
Kamaru Usman‘s targeted return to the Octagon is another interesting element of the welterweight title picture. Usman hasn’t fought at welterweight since UFC 286 and was recently called out by Brady at UFC London.
