UFC 315 LIVE: Results as Jack Della Maddalena takes title from Belal Muhammad with brilliant display
Re-live the action after Australia’s ‘JDM’ won an entertaining main event in Canada to claim the welterweight belt
Jack Della Maddalena claimed the welterweight title from Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 315, showing off sublime striking to dethrone the wrestling specialist.
Della Maddalena was able to hold the centre of the Octagon and press forward for much of the five-round bout, switching stances frequently and tagging Muhammad with dozens of straight shots, as well as a knee that cut the Palestinian-American badly in round five.
Muhammad, 36, did not rely on his usually effective wrestling nearly enough, and when he did, his Australian challenger exhibited impressive defence. With that, “JDM” secured scorecards of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46, halting Muhammad’s 10-fight win streak and extending his own to a remarkable 18 bouts.
Della Maddalena, 28, ended Muhammad’s title reign during the latter’s first defence, and now the Aussie is expected to defend the strap against Muhammad’s friend Islam Makhachev – the reigning lightweight king, who has eyed welterweight gold but would not face Muhammad.
And in Saturday’s co-main event in Montreal, flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko extended her second reign atop the division, retaining the title against Manon Fiorot with a razor-close decision. Re-live the action and see all the results from the UFC 315 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 315 in photos
UFC 315 in photos
UFC 315 in photos
UFC 315 in photos
UFC 315 in photos
UFC 315 LIVE: Jack Della Maddalena dethrones Belal Muhammad
UFC 315 LIVE: Jack Della Maddalena dethrones Belal Muhammad
UFC 315 LIVE: Jack Della Maddalena dethrones Belal Muhammad
Della Maddalena: “It’s exactly how I thought it would feel.
“I should’ve been a bit sharper with my shots, but it is what it is. Coming in against someone like Belal with that sort of pressure wrestling, I couldn’t spend too long against the fence or on my back.
“I was gunning for a finish but Belal’s the man, he’s a tough dude, he’s hard to put away.”
On his expected first defence, against lightweight king Islam Makhachev, he says: “I think it’s a beautiful challenge, he’s pound-for-pound No 1, I’m gonna get him back for Volk.”
He’s referring to Makhachev’s two wins against Alexander Volkanovski, one of Australia’s other historical UFC champs.
UFC 315 LIVE: Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena
Jack Della Maddalena def. Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
AND NEW! Well deserved. A fantastic striking performance from the Aussie, who also defended very well when Muhammad grappled (which was surprisingly little).
Credit to Muhammad for his heart and toughness, but his reign is short lived.
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