Rising UFC star Jack Della Maddalena has labelled 2024 as "strap season", believing he will have a shot at the welterweight crown by the end of the year.
Della Maddalena has won all six of his fights since his UFC debut in 2022, and the West Australian will look to take another major step towards his goal of becoming welterweight champion when he fights world No.4 Gilbert Burns in Miami on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
A win over 37-year-old Burns could set up a title eliminator against world No.3 Shavkat Rakhmonov in Perth this year.
Another win there would likely give Della Maddalena a crack at the welterweight belt at the end of the year.
Leon Edwards is the current welterweight champion.
"I feel it's coming this year. I can feel it - strap season," Della Maddalena told AAP from his training base in the US.
"I've thought about that (becoming world champion) a bit, visualised the belt going around my waist. I'm just trying to make it all fall together.
"I think Leon (Edwards) is probably going to be booked to fight soon.
"I don't want to wait too long. A big title eliminator fight might be coming, I'd imagine. I reckon it will be in Perth."
Della Maddalena has already fought a UFC bout in Perth - in February last year when he defeated American Randy Brown in a round-one submission.
The 27-year-old Australian would love to bring another huge fight back to his home town.
More importantly, he wants to bring the welterweight belt back soon.
"It would be awesome for the city of Perth. It would be an honour to be the first person to bring a (UFC) world title back to Perth," Della Maddalena said.
"It would just be a cool thing to be able to place the belt in my gym. It would be a very nice feeling."
Burns, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert, represents the toughest challenge of Della Maddalena's career.
Della Maddalena is 10 years younger than Burns - not that the Aussie is counting on that to get him over the line.
"From a physical standpoint it's an advantage for me, but he's got more years, more experience. It's a good test," Della Maddalena said.
"It's definitely my toughest fight, my hardest fight.
"On the feet he's pretty dangerous. He's got some power and isn't afraid to throw some big shots.
"He's a world champion in jiu-jitsu, so he's obviously very dangerous on the ground as well."
The headline fight for UFC 299 will be the bantamweight title battle between current champion Sean O'Malley and world No.5 Marlon Vera.
