Jack Della Maddalena emerged triumphant at UFC 299 with a late finish, but it appears he achieved it despite battling a significant injury.
In a thrilling main card bout against former title contender Gilbert Burns at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) secured victory with follow up punches after landing a devastating knee in the third round. However, according to Della Maddalena’s manager Tim Simpson, the Australian welterweight accomplished the feat while grappling with a broken left forearm.
Simpson took to Instagram Stories on Tuesday evening to share a picture of Della Maddalena’s X-ray, revealing the unmistakable signs of a broken bone. Simpson indicated that the injury occurred “early” in the fight, though the specific round of occurrence was not disclosed.
“Jack Della Maddalena arm snapped clean early in the fight,” Simpson captioned the X-ray image. “Rallied for a finish in the 3rd. Soldier! PS Gilbert kicks hard!”
Although it remains unclear whether Della Maddalena was aware of the severity of his injury immediately after the fight, viewers observed him acknowledging discomfort with the limb following the stop page and during his post fight interview with Joe Rogan.
Due to the injury, the Florida Athletic Commission (FAC) has indefinitely suspended Della Maddalena, 27, until clearance for his damaged forearm is provided by an orthopedic doctor.
Despite the adversity, Della Maddalena’s victory over Burns marked a significant milestone in his career. The impressive win propelled him from No. 14 to No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY SPORTS/MMA Junkie welter weight rankings. As a UFC newcomer with an undefeated record of seven victories, including five stop pages, Della Maddalena continues to make waves in the welterweight division.
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