UFC 315: Maddalena defeats Muhammad to become new welterweight champion

Jack Della Maddalena delivered one of the best performances of his career at UFC 315, dethroning Belal Muhammad to become the new UFC welterweight champion.

The Australian’s unanimous decision victory (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) was the result of a well-executed game plan and months of focused preparation, as he extended his remarkable winning streak to 18 bouts.

Della Maddalena entered the Octagon as the underdog, facing Muhammad, who had not lost since 2019 and was making his first title defence. From the opening bell, Della Maddalena fixed himself in the centre of the cage, using sharp footwork and a high-volume striking approach to keep Muhammad at bay. The Australian’s ability to switch stances and land crisp straight punches repeatedly frustrated the former champion, who struggled to implement his wrestling-heavy strategy.

A key to Della Maddalena’s success was his defensive wrestling. In the lead-up to the fight, his team, led by Ben Vickers, drilled specific counters to Muhammad’s takedowns, drawing inspiration from previous footage of Muhammad’s vulnerabilities. This preparation paid off, as Della Maddalena blocked six of Muhammad’s nine takedown attempts, forcing the action to remain largely on the feet where he held the advantage.

The fight reached its height in the fifth round when Della Maddalena landed a cut on Muhammad with his knee, which did a lot to turn things in his favour. Despite Muhammad’s efforts to rally, the Australian’s composure and tactical discipline never wavered. The judges’ scorecards reflected the close, competitive nature of the contest, but Della Maddalena’s output-landing nearly 200 strikes-proved decisive.

After the bout, Della Maddalena reflected on the pressure and his approach: “He brings the pressure. I knew I had to be sharp on my feet. I wanted to take him out of there. I was gunning for a finish, but Belal is a tough dude”. 

With this victory, the new king of the welterweight division not only captured the welterweight crown but also joined the small group of Australians to hold a UFC title, following in the footsteps of Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker. He’s also extended his MMA winning streak to 18 fights, going to 2016.