Jack Della Maddalena is on the verge of creating Australian mixed martial arts history.

Should the man known as “JDM” end Belal Muhammad’s welterweight championship reign at UFC 315 in Montreal on Sunday morning he will become the first West Australian UFC champion.

He knows a victory though could be bigger for the sport and his family than just his legacy.

Della Maddalena (17-2) has not fought since he knocked out former title contender Gilbert Burns in March of last year – his seventh consecutive win in the Octagon.

It was the biggest victory of his fledging career which skyrocketed when the former rugby player earned a spot in the UFC through the Dana White Contender Series Reality show nearly four years ago.

Long touted as an exciting prospect on the regional MMA scene, Della Maddalena is now only a win away from joining Wollongong’s Alexander Volkanovski as an Australian UFC champion.

And while history beckons, Della Maddalena said a win was also about setting a strong example for his son Franco, daughter Paloma and the wider WA mixed martial arts community.

“To come home and be the first West Australian champ would be great. Bringing back the title to reside in Australia is going to be awesome,” he said.

“Even just bringing the belt to my gym (Scrappy MMA) is something I’ve dreamed of, and I’ve put a lot of effort in to get there. It’s going to be surreal. I don’t know how I will feel, I think it will live up to the expectations of how I think it’s going to go.

“To be able to show my son that while a lot of people say you can do what you want, to be able to show him if you put your mind to something, you put the work in and you truly believe in yourself that you really can do anything you want.

“And for anybody, to show you can do whatever you want no matter where you’re from. It’s good values for young kids.”

Della Maddalena will go into the fight as the underdog and it will be a bout of contrasting styles, with the West Australian known as one of the best strikers in the UFC.

Muhammad (24-3) is a renowned wrestler, with 18 of his 24-career wins coming via decision including beating Leon Edwards in five rounds last year to claim the title.

Della Maddalena has long spruiked that he plans to end the champion’s reign within the five rounds and avoid being taken down by the grappler.

“The gameplan is the usual. I’m going to try to damage him, try and take him out,” he said.

“Keep my distance, not let him get too involved in the grappling and stop the takedowns. Everyone thinks I can’t wrestle, but I will snuff his takedowns and let him know he’s not going to get me down easy and it’s going to be a hard fight for him.

“Start this reign off with a nice finish and show everyone there’s a new king in the welterweight division.”

Della Maddalena has no shortage of Australian fighters in his corner and has benefitted from training and picking the brain of featherweight champion Volkanovski at a training camp.

“I spent some time with Volk before he went over to fight (Diego) Lopez. He’s had all the experience you could want, multiple title fights, defended it multiple times and he’s just won it back,” he said.

“I learnt a lot from Volk, he’s been an inspiration throughout my whole career.

“He went over some details and stuff, but nothing too crazy. He just gave me confidence, told me to do my thing and believes I will win. I believe I will win.

“He told me not to let the moment get too me too much is a big part of it, not get caught up with what it means and just stroll out there and do what me and him love to do which is get in there and compete and fight.”

While the 28-year-old is ready for the biggest fight of his life it has been 14 months since his last with a badly broken arm and subsequent infection not only costing him time on the mat but also a chance to fight again in his home city last year.

Despite the long break between fights, Della Maddalena said he had no nerves about putting on the gloves.

“I feel fresh and I’m just itching to get back in there,” he said.

“I’ve been sitting on the sidelines for some time watching every fight go by and wishing to get back in there.

“On fight day the nerves will start ringing but I am excited to perform and do what I love to do.”

The fight world will now await to see if Della Maddalena can write himself into the MMA history books.