In a recent revelation, Alexander Volkanovski expressed his surprise upon learning that fellow Aussie Jack Della Maddalena had secured a shot at the UFC welterweight title during a live stream hosted by Dana White. The announcement included details about upcoming UFC fights and caught Volkanovski off guard, as he was primarily tuning in to hear about his own championship match against Diego Lopes scheduled for April.
Volkanovski, 36, shared his reactions with Wide World of Sports, stating that he had no prior knowledge of Della Maddalena’s title opportunity. As he listened to White’s feed, he was not only shocked to learn that his own fight would be for a vacant title but also thrilled to hear Della Maddalena’s name mentioned. His candid reactions to the news were even captured on video.
“I’m genuinely rapt for him,” Volkanovski remarked. “He’s a great bloke and a fellow Australian, so I’m always keen to support my countrymen. This is a fantastic opportunity for Jack, and I have faith he will perform admirably.”
Della Maddalena, a 28-year-old fighter hailing from Perth, is making waves in the sport with impressive victories against well-known opponents such as Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland, which have propelled him into title contention. He holds a professional record of 17 wins and 2 losses and is set to face Belal Muhammed for the welterweight title at UFC 315 on May 11 (AEDT).
Meanwhile, Volkanovski’s highly anticipated fight against Lopes is scheduled for April 14 in Miami, Florida, and fans are eager to see how both fighters will fare in their respective title matches.