Former Champion Belal Muhammad Sustains Horrific Injuries at UFC 315

Belal Muhammad suffered significant injuries during his welterweight championship bout against Jack Della Maddalena. The fight took place early Sunday morning at UFC 315, where Muhammad was making his first defence of the 170lbs title he claimed last July.

Despite his efforts, Muhammad`s reign as champion concluded with a unanimous decision defeat to Della Maddalena. The 28-year-old challenger showcased dynamic striking from the start, landing precise punches on Muhammad`s face throughout the fight.

A crucial moment in the fifth round saw Della Maddalena land a powerful knee that opened a large cut beneath Muhammad`s left eye. However, the full severity of Muhammad`s injuries became apparent only after he was medically evaluated backstage.

UFC President Dana White later revealed the shocking extent of the damage. A photo shared by White showed that in addition to the cut below his eye, Muhammad`s upper lip was severely split in half.

White expressed admiration for Muhammad`s toughness, highlighting his resilience while fighting with such gruesome injuries. Sharing the photo, White commented: “What a WAR!! Broken nose, orbital and split lip. #Respect.”

Due to the severity of his injuries, Muhammad was immediately taken backstage and was unable to participate in a post-fight interview.

Later, Muhammad addressed the defeat on social media, stating: “Allah`s plan is the best plan. Alhamdillah for everything. Thank you to all my supporters. I`ve been here before and I`ll be back.”

For Jack Della Maddalena, the victory marked a historic moment, making him only the third Australian fighter to capture UFC gold. Reflecting on his win, he said: “It’s exactly how I thought it would feel. It feels good.”

He acknowledged the challenge of facing Muhammad, noting: “I knew I had to be smart on my feet… Coming in there against someone like Belal with that pressure, I knew I had to be smart. Belal’s the man, he’s a tough dude.” He proudly added, referencing other Australian champions, “Australia, we got three of these babies. Let’s go!”