Someone apparently “time-travelled” to witness a future clash: Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev. And according to the short clip making the rounds online, it doesn’t end the way most pundits would expect.
In the 30-second fan edit, Makhachev goes for his signature D’arce choke—tight and threatening, but never fully locked in. Before he can finish, the tide shifts. Della Maddalena shuts down the submission, scrambles to his feet, and unleashes a barrage. The clip ends with the now former lightweight champ stunned —TKO’d in a fictional future that’s sparked plenty of conversation.
The reactions online range from believers to full-blown skeptics. Some fans genuinely think Makhachev would struggle with Della Maddalena’s striking and pressure, especially given how tightly contested his last bout was. Others dismissed the entire clip as fan-fiction nonsense, arguing that Islam would dominate and finish the Aussie in a round. A few weighed in with odd comparisons, wild predictions, and the occasional nonsensical meme—but the buzz was undeniable.
Fiction or not, the timing of the edit couldn’t be better. Jack Della Maddalena is fresh off claiming the UFC welterweight title and is already slated to defend it against Makhachev, who’s moving up in weight to try and become a double champ. It’s one of the most anticipated clashes of the year—and now it comes with its own piece of speculative lore.
For added perspective, Della Maddalena’s last knockout target was Danny Roberts, who’s now competing under the PFL banner. Roberts told Bloody Elbow:
“Everyone’s human, right? There’s this aura around Russians and Dagestanis since Khabib… But I’ve been in there with JDM. I felt his pressure, his hands. He’s special. I believe he can create the upset.”
Whether the fan edit is prophetic or just fantasy, it’s done its job—igniting debate, fueling hype, and giving fight fans one more what-if to chew on. If the real bout unfolds anything like the video, MMA might have a new iconic moment—and a new kingpin at 170.
