Jack Della Maddalena may be known for his crisp boxing and knockout power, but in a recent training session, he showed that his grappling is not to be overlooked…
Especially after putting none other than Craig Jones to sleep with a tight D’arce Choke.

Choking out a grappler of Jones’ caliber is no small feat, even in a controlled training environment.
While it’s clear Jones was letting Maddalena explore certain sequences, the fact that the UFC welterweight contender managed to cinch in a choke deep enough to shut off the lights speaks volumes.

Though Maddalena built his reputation primarily through striking — and most of his victories have come on the feet — he’s also a BJJ black belt.
His experience against high-level grapplers inside the octagon has steadily sharpened his ground game, and it looks like he’s continuing to invest heavily in that area.

Currently undefeated in the UFC with a 17-2 pro record, Maddalena’s most recent victory over Gilbert Burns has rocketed him into the top five of the welterweight division.
With just one win likely separating him from a title shot against reigning champion Belal Muhammad, his next opponent could be one of the few ranked above him — possibly Sean Brady or Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Regardless of who he faces next, the game plan for Maddalena is clear: keep the fight standing.
But with opponents who are as dangerous on the ground as they are on their feet, working with someone like Craig Jones makes perfect sense.

 

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