Welterweight Jack Della Maddalena answered questions from the press at the official UFC 284 media day ahead of his main card …
Well Jack obviously only a few days away from a massive card here in Perth a country and city specifically that’s been starved for a big pay-per-view so Camp’s out of the way just got to make way and fight Randy Brown what are the emotions now yeah I’m feeling good you know I’m focused I’m in my hometown so it feels like another day but yeah I’m focused I’m ready to fight I’m going to put on a good fight for the crowd has the week felt like another fight week given that you are the hometown guy fighting I’m sure you have more obligations to do just around the city I would assume yeah it’s been to be it’s been nice just to be able to go home and yeah I spend time with the family and not have to then go upstairs to a hotel room so it’s yeah it feels a little bit different but yeah I’m in the zone now so I’m it feels like a flight I feel like there’s a fire on the horizon we’re looking at Randy Brown specifically what do you make of him as an opponent I think people don’t realize how long he’s been in the UFC he’s a tall rangy guy so what do you make of his skill saying what he brings yeah he’s a good challenging opponent he’s extremely tall he’s been in the game a lot for some of the top guys in the division so yeah I’m excited to challenge myself I think I can beat him and yeah that’s what I’m coming to do who’s some of the guys that you brought in to train with specifically or did you bring anyone because Randy’s one of the taller welterweights that you could probably fight in this division yeah he’s definitely is a tall guy I really haven’t bring anyone differently and I’ve spent years training my brother who’s a pretty similar frame to Randy so yeah it’s a style that I’m used to fighting and I think I’ve got the tools and the team to make it happen well here’s a good mix of knockout submissions and decisions so is there a specific Avenue that you think he just shines more than the others like is he a better Striker or Grappler or you just mix it all well together in there I’ll probably just say he’s pretty well-rounded you know he’s got yeah as you said he’s good standing up he’s good on the ground I think he’s a he’s got a diverse style and a yeah I think his range is one of his probably his most dangerous weapons and in this division there was obviously a big influx of these you know these prospects coming up there was you there was Hamza there was shaft cat there was Sean Brady all of these guys do you feel like all those guys or you’re being overlooked compared to all of those guys because they’re getting these these like people are talking about Hamza fighting for the belts already they want shafka to fight for the Bell Sean Brady was almost a number one Contender fight uh do you feel like you’re overlooked in this division as a prospect uh no really I think I’ve had a few fights I think yeah hopefully after this fight they’ll be right in there with those guys and hopefully competing with one of those guys soon so sat so Monday morning here in one after the fight out what does the headline say how does this fight play out I think I’m gonna put on my plan is put on a master class you know go in there not be hit and damage Randy from the get-go uh and then final one for me how to see the main event going between Alex and Islam I think I’m back in the Aussie you know I think Alex has the tools to make it happen and I think it’s a it’s a yeah it’s a tough one for him but I think he can make it happen thank you and Jack uh you started your career Owen two now 13 and two same coach same city you’re in Perth ufcs here you are the talk of the card is it sort of like a crowning moment to you even though you’ve got a long career ahead of you but is is it a real Pinnacle moment for you yeah for sure you know I’m always excited for the next one this is the next fight it’s something that I always thought would happen you know fight here in front of a big crowd in the UFC and it happened this early as a dream come true and uh you’re a dad now how’s that uh affected training camp uh it’s you know what’s actually bringing balance to my life you know just a lot more rest in between which is nice and mate you got years left in this career but I just wanted to asking ask one thing after it’s all said and done how does Jack Della want to be remembered I want to be oh I don’t know I want to go down as one of the probably the smoothest movers in the game that’s it good luck excuse me I don’t know I just like to put on every time I fart I don’t want to be I just want to look nice fighting well it’s worked so far I mean uh that rookie year in the UFC couldn’t get much better is there a certain pressure you’re putting on yourself to live up to those expectations you’re using words like master class and things like that yeah well that’s why I’m gunning for the perfect performance obviously the perfect performance is a it’s a tough Mountain to get to I guess but that’s the plan you know go in there not get ahead and land a lot of strikes how close were the last ones to the perfect performance I mean three first round Kos in a row it’s pretty good yeah those I think those things I can improve on you know but yeah hopefully this one um if it goes three rounds hopefully I can put on a good show yeah and I’m just curious uh tomorrow you’ll be at the press conference with the other four title fight competitors and that’s obviously a big stage a big opportunity do you like think about you know how you want to represent yourself up there the kind of impression you want to give on a stage like that or there’s going to be a lot of people or do you just go up there not really think about it be yourself yeah I just think I’m focused on the fight you know I put all my focus on the fight and this stuff is just yeah bonus but yeah the fight is what I’m after and I want to put on a good show yeah I just wanted to get like a prediction on Usman versus Leon Edwards for the title I think Leon’s gonna I think Leon can do it again you know I think he’s probably I think for rematches that when the younger guy wins the first time I think he’s probably gonna win the second time and I think he’s got this skill set to do it and I think honestly I think it’s uh who’s when it’s time has been and yeah I think Leon will get the win hey Jack how you going good thank you um coming in after three first uh first round Knockouts there’s a kind of sense of complacency kind of build we you have a fight coming up and you’re like yeah no I’ll get this done or do you eat on the prep or you’re always like nurse could go three rounds I’ve got to be prepared um and you have like a team that kind of pull you in or do you not kind of have that problem no I’m focused I’m ready to go three rounds that’s obviously what I’ve signed up to do so yeah I’m ready to go three rounds if I can get it out of there early then that’s just a bonus and you mentioned how you’re just focused on the fight but you are fighting about as close to home as you can fight um and this is all your family and friends um supporting you does that do you feel any kind of pressure going into that or is it kind of a fire that lights up underneath you yeah I think it’s the pressure you know I think it is an important thing you know just make the wind feel that much better so yeah I’m going to embrace the pressure and isn’t something you get to do every day so I’m going to enjoy every second of it and it might potentially be the only time this happens but how are you feeling about having a fight and then going home to sleep in your own bed yeah it’s incredible you know that is a big bonus you know go home straight after the fight eat these food that I’m used to eating and continue on my life the next day cool cheers mate you’ll mentioned that like he trains almost exclusively in Liverpool and then he went over to Thailand and he picked up like a lot of extra skills and whatever does that interest you in the future maybe of going outside of Perth and if so where would you ideally want to go yeah no I’ve actually yeah I think this year I plan on going to Thailand at some point you know take the family have a little holiday and it’s a good excuse to hover day and get some good training with different people but yeah the team is my team at the moment is getting the work that I need to be done and that’s what it’s that’s what it’s about