Belal Muhammad`s tenure as the UFC welterweight champion concluded in a bloody contest at UFC 315. The American fighter, born in Palestine, was making his initial defense of the 170lb belt he captured from Leon Edwards in Manchester last July.
His opponent for the title defense was Australia`s Jack Della Maddalena, who was returning to the octagon after a 14-month absence due to a severe bone infection.
Ultimately, Muhammad was unsuccessful, losing the fight by unanimous decision to Della Maddalena. With this victory, JDM secured his place in the record books as the third Australian fighter to hold a UFC championship.
An ecstatic Della Maddalena commented on his win, saying, “It’s exactly how I thought it would feel. It feels f***ing good.” He added, “I knew I had to be smart on my feet. I should have been a bit sharper with the shots.”
Reflecting on his strategy, he stated, “Coming in there against someone like Belal with that pressure wrestling, I knew I had to be smart.”
“I thought I was ahead, I wanted to take him out of there. Belal’s the man, he’s a tough dude,” Della Maddalena said, before proudly declaring, “Australia, we got three of these babies. Let’s go!”
Della Maddalena showcased his precise striking skills throughout the fight, connecting with Muhammad from the opening round.
Muhammad, demonstrating remarkable resilience, absorbed Della Maddalena`s significant blows and continued to press forward, seeking takedowns.
Della Maddalena displayed excellent takedown defense throughout the bout, efficiently scrambling back to his feet whenever he was taken down.
The damage inflicted played a critical role in the judges` scoring. A particularly impactful knee strike from Della Maddalena in the fifth round caused a large laceration under Muhammad`s eye, which likely influenced the judges who scored the fight 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in favor of the Australian.
Della Maddalena`s triumph has significant implications for the UFC`s future plans, particularly for the International Fight Week event scheduled for June 28. Had Muhammad won, the main event for UFC 317 was potentially a highly anticipated lightweight title clash between champion Islam Makhachev and former featherweight king Ilia Topuria.
However, Della Maddalena`s victory now paves the way for Makhachev to potentially move up to the welterweight division to challenge for a second world title. Makhachev, the current lightweight champion and widely considered the sport`s pound-for-pound best, has expressed keen interest in this possibility, posting on X, “Time to become a double champion #inshaAllah. Let’s go.”
Della Maddalena appears ready for the challenge of facing the pound-for-pound king, stating, “I think it’s a beautiful challenge.” He also hinted at avenging his compatriot, Alexander Volkanovski, who previously lost to Makhachev, adding, “He’s pound-for-pound No 1. I’m going to get him back for [Alexander Volkanovski].”
Della Maddalena`s first defense of his newly acquired welterweight title is expected to be against Islam Makhachev.
Percy Harlow