UFC Welterweight Title Showdown: Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena
Headlining the main event of UFC 315 in Montreal, reigning Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad is set to make his long-awaited first title defense against the surging fifth-ranked contender Jack Della Maddalena. Originally scheduled to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov in December, Belal was forced to withdraw due to a toe infection. Since then, Rakhmonov has suffered an injury of his own, clearing the way for Maddalena to step in and challenge for the belt. With Muhammad finally returning to the octagon, the question looms: Can he hang on to the title he worked so hard to earn? In this article, we break down what each fighter must do to come out on top in this pivotal Welterweight clash.
Belal Muhammad
Belal enters this fight in top form. Aside from a no-contest against Leon Edwards in 2021, he’s been unbeaten since 2019 and finally captured UFC gold last year after a long and steady climb. Muhammad leans on relentless grappling and control time to dominate opponents. Though he rarely finishes fights, most of his UFC wins have come via decision, and his approach is effective and frustrating for opponents. He lacks submission threats, but his discipline and pressure make him difficult to deal with. In the striking department, Belal is also able to hold his own. He boasts an impressive 89% takedown defense, which is paired with a solid 57% striking defense as well. He does lack any KO power, but he can throw a decent amount of strikes that can do some damage. To defend his title, Muhammad will need to stay patient and time his takedowns carefully. His path to victory lies in neutralizing Maddalena’s striking by forcing clinch exchanges and working the fight to the ground. If he can back Maddalena against the cage and control position, the champion can methodically wear down the challenger over five rounds.
Jack Della Maddalena
After a third-round TKO win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 299, Jack Della Maddalena is riding high into his first title opportunity. Known for his elite boxing and relentless pace, the Australian striker lands nearly seven significant strikes per minute and has developed a reputation as being a very good finisher as well. Earlier in his UFC career, Maddalena rattled off four consecutive first-round KOs, establishing himself as a legitimate knockout artist. While striking is his bread and butter, he's also shown respectable clinch work and solid takedown defense, as seen in his win over Burns, a dangerous grappler in his own right. For Maddalena, the key to victory is simple: keep the fight standing. He must avoid overextending, which could lead to easy takedown opportunities for Belal. At the same time, he needs to push the pace and control the striking exchanges, forcing Belal into a reactive game. This could potentially lead him to advance positions for most of the fight, where he can avoid bad positions, particularly against the cage. If Jack can find his rhythm early and avoid the ground, a finish becomes a real possibility.
Conclusion
This fight is a classic clash of styles: grappler vs. striker. The champion’s control and patience will be tested against the explosiveness and hunger of the challenger. Beyond the title itself, this matchup carries serious implications for the division. Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev—a close friend and training partner of Belal Muhammad—is reportedly eyeing a move up to Welterweight. If Belal loses, it could open the door for Islam to step in and shake up the landscape even further. Who adapts better on fight night may walk away with gold and reshape the Welterweight picture for years to come.
