Jack Della Maddalena’s Team Sparks Controversy, Calling Topuria “Just a Midget”

The UFC may soon have another weight-class shake-up on its hands, but not everyone is on board with the idea. Current UFC Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena and his team have sparked controversy with their blunt assessment of Ilia Topuria’s plans to move up in weight.

Topuria, the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion and former Featherweight king, has made no secret of his ambition to become the first three-division champion in UFC history. The Georgian-Spanish star has already proven that he can rise to the occasion, winning belts in two divisions in less than three years. Now, his sights are set on welterweight gold, which would make him the first fighter ever to conquer 145, 155, and 170 pounds.

But the man who currently holds the belt at 170 and his team aren’t impressed. In fact, they’ve issued a sharp warning — one that has already stirred debate across the MMA world.

Ben Vickers: “He’s Just a Midget”

Jack Della Maddalena’s head coach, Ben Vickers, recently addressed the possibility of Topuria challenging for the welterweight title during an interview on Submission Radio. His words were direct and far from diplomatic.

“He’s my height, and I’m a midget,” Vickers said. “He needs to stay where he is. It will be a very bad decision for him to come up and fight Jack. They’re the same fighter, essentially, he’s just a midget and Jack’s a bit bigger. They do a lot of the same things very well, and I love Ilia. He’s one of my favorite fighters to watch because I think he fights like Jack.”

The comments were quickly picked up by media outlets and fans, many of whom saw the statement as both a backhanded compliment and a very public challenge. While Vickers acknowledged Topuria’s skill, he also made it clear that size — and by extension, weight class — would make all the difference in a potential matchup.

The Weight-Class Reality Check

The UFC’s weight-class system exists for a reason. Moving up isn’t just about adding pounds; it’s about adapting to opponents with naturally larger frames, more reach, and greater raw power.

• Ilia Topuria: 5’7”, began his career at bantamweight (135 lbs), spent the bulk of it at featherweight (145 lbs), and recently claimed the lightweight (155 lbs) title.

• Jack Della Maddalena: 5’11”, a career welterweight who cuts to make 170 lbs and walks around significantly heavier on fight week.

That four-inch height gap translates into reach, leverage, and striking angles that can make a major difference at the elite level. Each time Topuria has moved up, he’s relied on his speed, technique, and fight IQ to neutralize bigger opponents. But welterweight represents a new frontier — one filled with fighters who have natural size advantages he has never faced.

Comparing Early Career Competition

Interestingly, both fighters have already been compared through the lens of their early professional opponents. Topuria’s first 15 opponents had a combined record of 130-23, showing that he fought battle-tested, dangerous competition from the start. Della Maddalena’s first 15 opponents carried a record of 84-21 — still strong, but less seasoned overall.

On paper, Topuria’s path suggests a higher level of challenge early on, reinforcing his elite talent. But as Vickers highlighted, talent isn’t the only factor at play when fighters move multiple divisions up. Natural size, durability, and the ability to absorb damage from larger athletes can decide careers.

Respect Amid the Trash Talk

Despite the controversial “midget” remark, Vickers was clear about one thing: he respects Ilia Topuria. He even called him one of his favorite fighters to watch, noting that their styles share many similarities. Both Topuria and Della Maddalena are technical pressure fighters with sharp boxing, solid defense, and the ability to finish fights with precision rather than pure chaos.

The difference, as Vickers stressed, is that Jack does everything Ilia does — but bigger. That, in the coach’s view, would make the matchup far more dangerous for the lightweight champion than Topuria or his fans might realize.

The UFC’s Dream Scenario?

From a promotional standpoint, a fight between Ilia Topuria and Jack Della Maddalena would be massive. It’s a storyline that practically writes itself:

• A reigning two-division champion chasing history as the UFC’s first triple-weight king

• A young, undefeated star testing himself against naturally larger competition

• A respectful-but-tense rivalry sparked by a coach’s controversial comment

Pay-per-view potential? Sky-high. UFC history stakes? Unprecedented. Whether the UFC would actually book such a fight soon is another question entirely. Timing, rankings, and divisional logjams often dictate matchmaking as much as storyline appeal.

The Challenge of Carrying Power Up

One of the key questions surrounding any fighter moving up is whether their power — one of Topuria’s most dangerous weapons — translates against naturally larger athletes. At featherweight and lightweight, Topuria’s boxing has looked world-class, often dismantling opponents with surgical precision and knockout accuracy.

But welterweights like Della Maddalena are used to absorbing punches from men cutting down from 185 lbs or more. A shot that rocked a lightweight might not carry the same damage at 170. Meanwhile, taking punches from bigger men is also a new test — and one that even legendary fighters like José Aldo and Max Holloway approached cautiously.

Fans Divided Over the Potential Fight

Since Vickers’ comments, MMA fans have split into camps. Some believe that Ilia Topuria is special — a once-in-a-generation talent capable of overcoming size disadvantages the way Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn once did. Others side with the realism of physics and weight classes, arguing that Topuria’s success at lightweight doesn’t guarantee similar results at welterweight.

Social media threads have exploded with debates over speed vs. size, technique vs. power, and legacy vs. risk. In many ways, the buzz proves just how intriguing the matchup is, regardless of whether it actually happens.

What Comes Next

For now, Jack Della Maddalena remains focused on defending his welterweight belt against the top contenders in his own division. Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria is still navigating his new role as lightweight champion, with possible defenses against names like Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, or even Islam Makhachev looming in the near future.

But if the stars align — and if the UFC sees the value in chasing a historic triple-champ storyline — the clash between Topuria and Della Maddalena could eventually materialize. And if it does, one thing is already clear: the build-up will be fiery, and the stakes will be enormous.