Jackie intoxicates surf-fight fans with a impossible to dislike shuck and jive on explosive short-lived waves.
It is a very thrilling week for devotees of the mixed martial arts game as popularised by Dana White’s UFC with Perth surfer Jack Della Maddalena and Russki Islam Machachev scrapping over Jackie’s recently acquired welterweight belt.
You’ll remember Jack Della Maddalena belting the just-crowned UFC champ Belal Muhammad back in May at UFC315. Stepping in as a short-notice replacement for Shavkat Rakhmonov, the Australian underdog demonstrated his elite striking and takedown defence, bloodying the hell out of the Chicagoan. It was a star-making performance, earning Fight of the Night and propelling Jackie to champ status.
Post-fight, Jackie called out Islam Makhachev, who hasn’t been beaten since 2015 and who’s gonna be saddling up to 170 pounds instead of his usual 155, thereby setting up the blockbuster lighting up this weekend at New York’s MSG.
And, for lovers of surf and fight, there was an unexpected gift yesterday in the form of a little tow-session at Perth’s beachbreaks with Jack Della Maddalena revealing a terrific form on his backhand.
Perth, you’ll recall, has been in the news of late as swarms, shivers, yes, of Great White sharks patrol the beaches.
Jackie, twenty-nine, intoxicates his legions of surf-fight fans with a impossible to dislike shuck and jive on these explosive short-lived waves. Perth, of course, is well-known for its very poor surf, thanks to offshore islands shadowing most of the swell, although the use of a jetski tow enables Jackie to cast his magic like a fishing line.
And it’s a spell no man or woman can resist.
Essential.
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This article grossly overlooks the Dagestan surf scene on the Caspian.
Major oversight.
Delightful sand points and intermittent calls to prayer.
Jack surfs better than derek writes.
True!
UFC is the grossest shit
Go Jack!
C’mon JDM.
He has to be a chance with Volk and Craig Jones on the team.
Bowls club’s gonna be heaving.
Yeah his takedown defence and ability to get back to his feet if required is excellent.
And Craig Jones is super smart.
Wasn’t real thrilled with the ease ol’ Gilbert got him to the dirt.
But he’s defending the subs well and getting back to his feet, sometimes with interest added.
God, I do hope so although Islam and Khabib are like the Lewis-Dean double act of MMA. Endearing men.
Islam is hilarious.
So manyt great one-liners.
Got a great chance..size, reach, stand up. Just need to protect ya neck!
Buncha meatheads.
Not diggin’ it.
Sorry Dezza
shit back-hand as well.
For a man who lives in the gym and surfs straighthanders it ain’t bad. Those tow-ats were pretty crook, howevs. Reminds me of ol Dez and Wheels circa 2003.
shadap
That’s ok!