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Jack Della Maddalena open to Mike Malott fight, targeting April or May return

The former UFC welterweight champion says he rushed his last fight, a third-round stoppage loss to Carlos Prates in Perth in May.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published · AI-assisted reporting
Jack Della Maddalena at the UFC Perth press conference, and Mike Malott in the Canadian flag after beating Joaquin Buckley at UFC Edmonton
Photo: Ed Mulholland via Getty Images

Jack Della Maddalena says he is open to fighting Mike Malott, but the former UFC welterweight champion is targeting a return in the spring.

"Yeah, for sure. I'll be into that," Della Maddalena told Bedtime MMA when the Malott fight came up.

The Australian said he is "just gonna ride it out a bit, but ready to go April, May next year." He has no plans to fight this autumn or winter, and said he rushed into his last fight.

Della Maddalena has not fought since May, when Prates stopped him in the third round of the UFC Perth main event. That defeat followed the loss of his title to Islam Makhachev in November 2025.

Malott has won five in a row and knocked out Joaquin Buckley in the second round of the UFC Edmonton main event last month, fighting in his home country.

Prates faces unbeaten Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 in Toronto on 30 January, with Makhachev out of action.

In this story
Jack Della MaddalenaMike MalottCarlos PratesIslam MakhachevJoaquin BuckleyMichael Morales
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