Jack Della Maddalena, better known to fight fans as “JDM,” is the Perth-born striker who went from a scrappy Australian gym to a UFC welterweight title in just four years. He’s one of the most exciting strikers in the 170-pound division, even after a rough patch that saw him lose the belt and drop another fight in his home country in 2026.
Jack Della Maddalena’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Giacomo “Jack” Della Maddalena |
| Nickname | JDM |
| Date of Birth | September 10, 1996 |
| Age | 29 years |
| Birthplace | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 5’11” (180 cm) |
| Weight Class | Welterweight (170 lbs) |
| Reach | 73 inches (185 cm) |
| Gym / Team | Scrappy MMA, Perth |
| Professional Debut | March 12, 2016 |
| Current Ranking | Outside the top 5 as of mid-2026, sitting around #7 in the UFC welterweight rankings after back-to-back losses |
| MMA Record | 18 wins, 4 losses (0 draws) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1–2 million (2026) |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Spouse / Partner | Michelle Della Maddalena |
| Children | Two — son Franco (b. 2022) and daughter Paloma Billie (b. 2024) |
| @jackdellamaddalena |
JDM’s road hasn’t been a straight line to the top he actually started his pro career 0-2 before going on an 18-fight unbeaten run that eventually landed him the UFC title. Off the mats, he’s a family man who keeps most of his home life away from cameras, letting his fights do the talking instead.
Early Career
Della Maddalena started training at Scrappy MMA in Perth as a teenager under coach Ben Vickers. He turned pro in 2016 and dropped his first two fights before catching fire, going undefeated for nearly a decade. He also won the Eternal MMA welterweight title, holding it from 2017 to 2020, which built the foundation for his eventual UFC signing through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021.
Professional Career
JDM debuted in the UFC at UFC 270 in January 2022 with a first-round knockout and kept climbing, finishing names like Kevin Holland and Gilbert Burns along the way.
He captured the welterweight title at UFC 315 in May 2025, outpointing Belal Muhammad over five rounds. His first defense went badly, though Islam Makhachev dominated him at UFC 322 in November 2025 to take the belt. He then lost again to Carlos Prates in Perth in May 2026, dropping him to 18-4 overall.
Wife
Jack is married to his longtime partner, Michelle Della Maddalena. The pair started dating back in December 2016, got engaged in 2021, and tied the knot in a private ceremony on March 29, 2022. Michelle keeps a relatively low profile but shares family moments on Instagram, once calling Jack and their kids “my whole world”. They have two children together — son Franco, born in August 2022, and daughter Paloma Billie, born on July 23, 2024. Jack has publicly called marrying Michelle his “greatest achievement”.
Jack Della Maddalena’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Jack Della Maddalena’s net worth is estimated at $1-2 million. This figure reflects his UFC fight purses, performance bonuses, and sponsorship deals. His earnings have spiked since becoming a UFC champion, with pay-per-view shares and higher base salaries contributing to his financial growth.
Fight Purses
| Event | Date | Result | Estimated/Disclosed Purse |
| UFC 270 (debut) | Jan 22, 2022 | Win | N/A |
| UFC 299 vs. Gilbert Burns | Mar 9, 2024 | Win | ~$254,500 (incl. bonus) |
| UFC 315 vs. Belal Muhammad (title win) | May 10, 2025 | Win | ~$437,000–$487,000 |
| UFC 322 vs. Islam Makhachev (title loss) | Nov 15, 2025 | Loss | ~$1,196,000 (est.) |
| UFC Fight Night vs. Carlos Prates | May 2, 2026 | Loss | ~$769,000 (est.) |
Career Earnings
| Category | Estimated Amount |
| Total disclosed/recorded fight purses (across tracked fights) | ~$523,000 |
| Estimated total career earnings incl. bonuses/PPV | Likely $2 million+ |
| Biggest single payday on record | $254,500 (UFC 299 vs. Gilbert Burns) |
| Sponsorship/endorsement income | Not publicly available |
Endorsements
Details on Della Maddalena’s formal endorsement deals are thin on the ground, which tracks with his image as a low-key, hometown fighter rather than a media-heavy pay-per-view star.
He wears UFC’s standard Venum fight kit like every other roster athlete, and his biggest visibility boost comes from UFC’s own promotional push rather than outside brand partnerships. Beyond that, there’s no confirmed word on personal sponsorship contracts, so specifics on endorsement income remain not publicly available.
Championships & Achievements
| Title/Achievement | Year |
| UFC Welterweight Champion | 2025 (May–Nov) |
| Eternal MMA Welterweight Champion | 2017–2020 |
| Multiple UFC Performance/Fight of the Night bonuses | 2022–2025 |
| BJJ Black Belt (promoted by Ben Vickers) | March 2024 |
| 18-fight winning streak (pro career) | 2016–2025 |
Fight Record
| Opponent | Result | Method | Event | Date |
| Gilbert Burns | Win | KO/TKO | UFC 299 | Mar 9, 2024 |
| Kevin Holland | Win | Decision | UFC Noche | Sep 16, 2023 |
| Belal Muhammad | Win | Unanimous Decision | UFC 315 | May 10, 2025 |
| Islam Makhachev | Loss | Unanimous Decision | UFC 322 | Nov 15, 2025 |
| Carlos Prates | Loss | TKO | UFC Fight Night | May 2, 2026 |
FAQs
1. Who is Jack Della Maddalena?
Jack Della Maddalena, born Giacomo Della Maddalena on 10 September 1996 in Perth, Western Australia, is an Australian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC’s welterweight division. Known by his initials JDM, he is a former UFC Welterweight Champion and the first Australian to hold that title.
2. What is Jack Della Maddalena’s UFC record?
His overall professional MMA record is 18 wins and 4 losses, with 12 of his wins coming by knockout, 2 by submission, and 4 by decision. Within the UFC specifically, he built an 8-fight winning streak before his recent title loss, going 8-0 from his 2022 debut through winning the belt in May 2025.
3. Did Jack Della Maddalena win a UFC title?
Yes. He won the UFC Welterweight Championship on 10 May 2025 at UFC 315 in Montreal, defeating Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision. The fight earned Fight of the Night honors and made him the first Australian UFC Welterweight Champion.
4. Who beat Jack Della Maddalena for the title?
Islam Makhachev defeated Della Maddalena by unanimous decision on 15 November 2025 at UFC 322 in New York, taking the welterweight title after Makhachev moved up from lightweight, where he had been champion.
5. What happened in Jack Della Maddalena’s most recent fight?
On 2 May 2026, Della Maddalena faced Carlos Prates in the main event of UFC Fight Night 275 in Perth, Australia. He lost via technical knockout (leg kicks and elbows) in the third round.
6. What is Jack Della Maddalena’s fighting style and team?
He fights out of Scrappy MMA in Perth and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ben Vickers. His game blends boxing-based striking with BJJ grappling, and he’s known for heavy hands and a high finish rate.
7. How did Jack Della Maddalena start his professional career?
He debuted on 12 March 2016 with a third-round TKO loss to Aldin Bates, then lost his next fight to Darcy Vendy by submission, starting his career 0-2. He then won nine straight fights, capturing and defending the Eternal MMA Welterweight Championship four times before signing with the UFC.
8. How did Jack Della Maddalena get into the UFC?
He earned his UFC contract by winning a unanimous decision over Ange Loosa on Dana White’s Contender Series 39 on 14 September 2021. He made his official UFC debut in January 2022 against Pete Rodriguez, winning by first-round TKO.
9. What awards has Jack Della Maddalena won in the UFC?
He has earned four Performance of the Night bonuses (against Ramazan Emeev, Danny Roberts, Randy Brown, and Gilbert Burns) and two Fight of the Night bonuses (against Bassil Hafez and Belal Muhammad). He was also named ESPN’s 2022 UFC Men’s Rookie of the Year.
10. What is Jack Della Maddalena’s background before MMA?
Born in Perth to a family of Australian and Italian descent, he attended St. Kevin’s College in Melbourne and later Aquinas College in Perth. He played rugby from age eight through his school years and took up boxing at fourteen to aid his rugby fitness, eventually transitioning full-time into MMA after his rugby career ended.