Jack Della Maddalena has been elevated to the co-main event status at UFC Vegas 77, where he will face Bassil Hafez on Saturday night.
After Bassil Hafez agreed to take the fight against Della Maddalena on short notice a few days ago, the matchup was moved to the co-headliner position on Thursday.
Originally, Della Maddalena was set to compete at UFC 290, but his scheduled opponent, Sean Brady, was forced to withdraw from the event just a week before. Although the UFC found a replacement in Josiah Harrell, the Ohio native was later removed from the card due to a rare brain disease discovered during pre-fight medicals, preventing him from competing.
In light of these circumstances, Della Maddalena chose to stay in Las Vegas rather than returning to his home country of Australia, in the hopes of securing another fight opportunity with the UFC.
It was during this time that Hafez received the call, having previously expressed his interest in fighting at UFC 290, but ultimately losing the opportunity to Harrell.
Hafez, with an overall record of 8-3-1 and a previous welterweight championship win in Fury Fighting Championships in February, recently signed with the UFC. Now, he aims to cause an upset as he makes his octagon debut against Della Maddalena on Saturday night.
The co-main event between Della Maddalena and Hafez will support the headlining matchup in the UFC women’s bantamweight division, where Holly Holm and Mayra Bueno Silva face off in a pivotal showdown.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UFC Vegas 77 co-main event
Who is Jack Della Maddalena?
Jack Della Maddalena is a professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC. He was originally scheduled to fight at UFC Vegas 77.
Who is Bassil Hafez?
Bassil Hafez is a professional mixed martial artist who recently signed with the UFC. He will be making his octagon debut at UFC Vegas 77 against Jack Della Maddalena.
Why was the matchup between Della Maddalena and Hafez bumped up to the co-main event?
The matchup was elevated to the co-main event spot at UFC Vegas 77 because Bassil Hafez accepted the fight against Della Maddalena on short notice, adding excitement and anticipation to the event.
Why did Della Maddalena’s original opponent withdraw from UFC Vegas 77?
Della Maddalena’s original opponent, Sean Brady, was forced to withdraw from the event due to unforeseen circumstances just over a week before the fight.
What happened to Della Maddalena’s replacement opponent, Josiah Harrell?
Josiah Harrell, who was initially secured as a replacement for Sean Brady, was later pulled from the card after pre-fight medicals revealed a rare brain disease that would prevent him from competing.
What are the upcoming matchups at UFC Vegas 77?
The co-main event will feature Jack Della Maddalena versus Bassil Hafez, while the main event will showcase Holly Holm and Mayra Bueno Silva in a pivotal matchup in the UFC women’s bantamweight division.
More about UFC Vegas 77 co-main event
- Jack Della Maddalena UFC Profile
- Bassil Hafez UFC Profile
- UFC Vegas 77 Event Page
- Holly Holm UFC Profile
- Mayra Bueno Silva UFC Profile
5 comments
sean brady pulled out?! man, that sucks. but props to bassil hafez for stepping up on short notice. gotta respect those fighters!
this ufc vegas 77 card is gonna be fire! holly holm vs. mayra bueno silva and now della maddalena vs. hafez as the co-main event? can’t wait! #ufc #mma
hey, who’s jack della maddalena? never heard of him before. sounds like a tough dude tho. can’t wait to see him in action!
i heard that josiah harrell had some crazy brain thing, glad he’s not fighting. safety first, always! good luck to della maddalena and hafez!
wow, Jack della maddalena is now co-main event at ufc vegas 77! i’m so excited for this fight with bassil hafez. #ufcvegas77