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After a rollercoaster journey, Australian welterweight sensation Jack Della Maddalena finally gets his chance to step into the Octagon at UFC Vegas 77. Set to face promotional newcomer Bassil Hafez in a short-notice bout, Maddalena's perseverance and determination have paid off.
Originally scheduled for UFC 290, Maddalena faced disappointment when his first opponent, Sean Brady, withdrew due to a severe case of Streptococcus B infection in his elbow.
But Maddalena's misfortune didn't end there. A replacement fighter, Josiah Harrell, was also forced to withdraw just a day before the event due to a rare neurological condition called moyamoya, which posed a high risk of stroke if left untreated.
Undeterred, Maddalena refused to let these setbacks define his journey. Opting to stay in Las Vegas, he kept his focus and sought another opportunity. That opportunity has now arrived at UFC Vegas 77, where he will step into the cage against Bassil Hafez.
Maddalena has been making waves in the welterweight division, and rightfully so. Boasting an impressive 14-2 record, he has proven himself as a rising star with four consecutive first-round stoppages, three of which earned him post-fight bonuses. His most recent victory came against Randy Brown, a dominant performance that ended in less than three minutes.
His opponent, Bassil Hafez, is a 31-year-old American welterweight making his UFC debut. Hafez enters the promotion with back-to-back wins over Anthony Ivy and Evan Cutts under the Fury FC banner earlier this year.
UFC Vegas 77 promises to be an exhilarating event, with the headline bout featuring former UFC champion Holly Holm against Mayra Bueno Silva in a women's bantamweight clash.
For Della Maddalena, this is not just a fight; it's an opportunity to showcase his skills, resilience, and unwavering determination. The Australian standout is ready to seize the moment and make a statement in the stacked welterweight division.