Belal Muhammad`s tenure as the welterweight champion concluded in a brutal, blood-soaked contest at UFC 315. The fighter, representing the USA and his Palestinian heritage, was slated for his initial defense of the 170-pound title he had secured from Leon Edwards in Manchester back in July of the previous year.
Standing opposite him for this championship challenge was Australian sensation Jack Della Maddalena. Della Maddalena was returning to action after a significant 14-month hiatus, stemming from a severe bone infection he had suffered.
However, the night did not favor Muhammad. He ultimately suffered a unanimous decision defeat to JDM, as Della Maddalena is known. With this career-defining win, Jack Della Maddalena etched his name into the record books, becoming the third fighter from Australia to capture a UFC title.
An ecstatic Della Maddalena expressed his triumph, stating, “It’s exactly how I thought it would feel. It feels f***ing good. I knew I had to be smart on my feet. I should have been a bit sharper with the shots. 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. Australia, we got three of these babies. Let’s go!”
Throughout the entirety of the contest, Della Maddalena delivered a masterclass in striking, consistently landing damaging blows on Muhammad right from the opening round. Della Maddalena`s precision was evident from the get-go. A particularly impactful moment came in the fifth and final round when Della Maddalena landed a beautiful knee strike that opened a significant gash under the former champion`s eye. Despite being visibly bloodied, Muhammad continued to endure the punishment.
To his credit, Belal Muhammad demonstrated immense toughness, absorbing Della Maddalena`s most potent strikes while persistently attempting to close the distance and secure takedowns. Della Maddalena, however, showcased exceptional takedown defense and was remarkably adept at scrambling back to his feet whenever Muhammad managed to get him to the canvas.
Ultimately, the cumulative damage proved to be the decisive factor in how the fight was scored. The deep cut inflicted by Della Maddalena`s knee strike in the final round likely played a key role in swaying the judges. The official scorecards read 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, all in favor of Della Maddalena.
Della Maddalena`s victory has substantial implications for the UFC`s future plans, particularly for Dana White and the potential matchups being considered for the International Fight Week card on June 28th. Had Della Maddalena lost, the likely main event for UFC 317 would have been a highly anticipated lightweight title clash between current champion Islam Makhachev and former featherweight king Ilia Topuria.
However, Della Maddalena`s triumph has paved a new path, potentially allowing Islam Makhachev to move up in weight to the 170-pound division and challenge for the welterweight title, seeking to become a rare two-division world champion.
Makhachev, often referred to as the “Dagestani Destroyer,” has already expressed his eagerness for this potential move up, posting on X: “Time to become a double champion #inshaAllah. Let`s go.”
Della Maddalena, for his part, seems enthusiastic about the prospect of facing arguably the sport`s top fighter. He stated: “I think it’s a beautiful challenge. He’s pound-for-pound No 1. I’m going to get him back for [Alexander Volkanovski],” referencing Makhachev`s previous fights against the Australian Featherweight champion. It is widely anticipated that Jack Della Maddalena`s first defense of his newly acquired welterweight title will be against the formidable pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev.
Elton Marrow