Ever since Jack Della Maddalena’s win over Belal Muhammad back in May, the newly minted champ has been on a collision course with former pound-for-pound kingpin Islam Makhachev.
According to Khabib Nurmagomedov, the fight between the two will take place at the Madison Square Garden in November, as many fight fans predicted.
While speaking on-stage in a video shared by The Cornell Combat Sports Show, Nurmagomedov revealed, seemingly against the wishes of Islam Makhachev who was sitting in the crowd, that the former pound-for-pound kingpin will collide with JDM for the welterweight title in New York City.
“I think here in New York. They promised us. He is now upset because I give information but this is his deal with UFC. I don’t deal with UFC. This is his problem.
“But we have deal with them, he’s gonna fight in Madison Square Garden.”
Islam Makhachev Said Jack Della Maddalena Fight Was “90% Done” One Week Ago
Although it’s continued to look as though it’s only a matter of time before a fight between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena is announced by the UFC, the former lightweight champ stated in an interview with UFC Eurasia just one week ago that the fight was nearly finalized.
Despite the fact that he didn’t mention Madison Square Garden, he referenced a potential November date.
“We’ve almost agreed on everything. There’s a 90 percent chance the fight happens in November.”
Considering previous comments from both fighters, as well as UFC CEO Dana White, it sounds like an official announcement may be coming down the pipeline sooner rather than later.
Dana White Previously Suggested Makhachev vs. JDM Could Headline MSG Card
Prior to Khabib Nurmagomedov leaking a fight between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC MSG card in November, Dana White indicated in an interview with Helen Yee that a Makhachev-JDM fight was the exact sort of headliner the promotion was hoping to bring to New York.
In the interview, which dropped on Jun. 28, Helen Yee asked White if the fight was big enough to headline MSG.
In response, the UFC boss said:
“100 percent. It’s always special when you go into New York and go into The Garden. I think a fight like that would do very well there.”
Prior to that, both Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena had thrown their support behind a potential showdown at Madison Square Garden.
In the wake of JDM’s big win over Belal Muhammad, the welterweight champ threw out the possibility of fighting Makhachev at MSG during an interview with ESPN.
On the flip side, during an interview with MMAJunkie back in late June, Makhachev suggested October or November, mentioning MSG as a possible venue.
“Madison Square Garden or Las Vegas or Abu Dhabi, because still we don’t have the day. If not Madison Square Garden, I want to fight in Abu Dhabi. I don’t want to wait.”
Considering the UFC already announced a fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane as the UFC 321 main event in Abu Dhabi, Makhachev and JDM could in fact be headed to New York.
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