Cormier gave advice to Makhachev before the fight with Della Maddalena

“Islam, you better set the tone for this fight. You can't sit and wait for Jack to determine where and how the fight will take place. You need to press him against the octagon fence and force him to retreat. If you force him to retreat, this will create opportunities for takedowns, as well as allow you to strike and shake Jack's confidence, which he gained after defeating Belal.”