Jack Della Maddalena wants to get right back into the thick of the title hunt in his next fight.

Last May, Della Maddalena climbed to the top of the mountain, beating Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 to claim the welterweight title. Unfortunately for “JDM,” his reign did not last long, as Della Maddalena lost the belt in his first title defense, dropping a decision to former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 322. Still only 29 years old, Della Maddalena wants to get right back to action, and he’s got a few names at the top of his personal list.

“Nothing locked in. Just waiting,” Della Maddalena said told streamer N3ON recently. “I don’t know. I would like to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov. I’ve always wanted to fight him, but whether that happens or not, I don’t know. … Otherwise, maybe Michael Morales or Carlos Prates, one of those guys.”

Undefeated in his MMA career at 19-0, Rakhmonov was originally set to fight Muhammad for the welterweight title, but an injury forced him out of the bout, allowing Della Maddalena to step in. And with Rakhmonov’s long absence due to injury, the new welterweight champion has already said he doesn’t believe Shavkat deserves a title shot. And if he doesn’t get it, that fight lines up perfectly for Della Maddalena’s plans.

“That’s the fight,” Della Maddalena said of Rakhmonov. “That’s a fight…

“That’d be the dream,” Della Maddalena added when asked about getting a rematch with Makhachev one day. “That’s why I want to fight Shavkat, because beating someone like him, you get thrown right back in there.”

Of course, Rakhmonov may get a title shot, or the UFC goes another direction altogether. Recently, there have been some rumors about “JDM” getting Carlos Prates — who is coming off a knockout of former champion Leon Edwards — next, with Prates also calling for the bout. And Della Maddalena is only too happy to oblige him.

“That would be a good fight,” Della Maddalena told N3ON in a separate video. “Let’s go. I’m in.

“He’s got good striking. I reckon I’d finish him. It would have to be a five-rounder, for sure. … That would be sick.”

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VIDEO STEW

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Still a few weeks to go during this UFC drought. If I didn’t have the RIZIN New Year’s card, this would’ve beena really tough stretch. How are y’all coping from the lack of fights? I need ideas.

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