Jack Della Maddalena admits there’s ‘extra pressure’ on him ahead of UFC Perth main event

Jack Della Maddalena knows there’s added pressure on him, given he’s headlining a UFC card in his hometown.

Della Maddalena is from Perth, Australia, and will headline UFC Perth on Saturday against Carlos Prates in a pivotal welterweight fight. It’s Della Maddalena’s first fight since losing his welterweight title, and although he’s eager to fight at home, he admits there is some added pressure on him.

“It’s been incredible just be able to do the whole camp at home, sleep in my own bed, and then come Saturday, put on a good show for the hometown,” Della Maddalena said at the pre-fight news conference. “I can’t wait. It’s business as usual, but obviously extra pressure (at home). But pressure makes good performances, and that’s what’s coming.”

Della Maddalena knows Prates is a tough out, but is confident he can get back into the win column and make a statement against the Brazilian.

Jack Della Maddalena not focused on title

Although Della Maddalena is a former champion, he doesn’t believe a win over Prates will get him back in the title conversation.

Instead, Della Maddalena thinks he’s likely a couple of wins away from a title shot, so the focus is just on Prates and getting his hand raised.

“Probably not,” Della Maddalena said at UFC Perth media day. “I think there’s a lot of contenders, a lot of fights that need to be had, so we’ll see what happens. But it would definitely keep me in the top picture and I got the title shot originally from just being active and just ready to sort of jump in at a moment’s notice, so I guess it would just keep me in that position if anything does fall through I’ll be able to jump in. But yeah, I would expect probably two more fights and then have another shot.”

Jack Della Maddalena enters UFC Perth with a record of 18-3 and is coming off a decision loss to Islam Makhachev.

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