Jack Della Maddalena: 'If you can't beat Gilbert Burns, you can't become a world champion'

Jack Della Maddalena sees Gilbert Burns as the perfect litmus test in his pursuit of gold.

MIAMI – Jack Della Maddalena sees Gilbert Burns as the perfect litmus test in his pursuit of gold.

Della Maddalena (16-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) faces former title challenger Burns (22-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) Saturday on the UFC 299 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) main card at Kaseya Center in Miami.

Burns will mark a big step up in competition for Della Maddalena, who aims to enter the title picture with a win.

“It’s a big one for me – he’s a top-five (opponent),” Della Maddalena told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “I feel like if you can’t beat Gilbert Burns, you can’t become a world champion. So my plan is to beat Gilbert Burns and prove that I belong in the top five.”

However, Della Maddalena isn’t expecting it to be an easy fight against the well-rounded Burns.

“I think Gilbert’s a good fighter,” Della Maddalena said. “He’s obviously battle tested, he’s very tough, he’s durable and he’s been in there with some of the best. I definitely expect a challenge.”

Burns is 2-3 in his past five. Most recently, he dropped a lopsided decision to Belal Muhammad in a fight in which  he injured his shoulder early. Della Maddalena doesn’t put too much stock into that, and expects Burns to come out with a grapple-heavy approach.

“(I’m) hoping and expecting the best Gilbert there is,” Della Maddalena said. “He’s aggressive. He’s not afraid to strike, go hard – but I expect him to be shooting, trying to get ahold of me and getting me on my back.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.