UFC 315 delivered a thrilling night of fights at the Bell Centre on Saturday, capped off by Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena unseating Belal Muhammad in a brutal five-round battle to claim the welterweight championship.
In a contest dominated by high-level striking and relentless pace, Della Maddalena outpointed Muhammad in a razor-close decision, earning scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46. The Aussie’s slick boxing and brutal knees allowed him to control the early rounds, while Muhammad, known for his grit and cardio, rallied late with takedowns and ground elbows. But the damage done on the feet gave Della Maddalena the edge, securing his 18th straight victory and a place among the elite at 170 pounds.
This win makes Della Maddalena the third Australian UFC champion in history, joining Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski, and solidifies his status as a breakout star from Dana White’s Contender Series.
Della Maddalena Outstrikes the Champ to Claim UFC Gold in Montreal
Montreal fans got the striking-heavy war they hoped for, as Muhammad struggled to implement his grappling-heavy game plan. Della Maddalena’s precision striking and ability to stop takedowns frustrated the defending champ throughout. Even when Muhammad secured key takedowns in the later rounds, he couldn’t keep the challenger grounded long enough to swing the momentum fully in his favor.
The win caps off a meteoric rise for Della Maddalena, whose UFC debut came just over two years ago. Now a champion, he has his pick of potential challengers in a red-hot welterweight division — with names like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Leon Edwards, and Ian Machado Garry waiting in the wings.
Jose Aldo Retires (Again) as Canadian Fighters Deliver in Front of Home Fans
The main card wasn’t short on memorable moments beyond the title fight. UFC legend Jose Aldo fell to Aiemann Zahabi via unanimous decision in what now appears to be the final chapter of his storied career. Aldo, who came out of retirement for this bout, confirmed afterward that he would once again be hanging up the gloves.
Canadian fans were treated to several strong performances from their homegrown fighters. Zahabi’s win was one of the biggest of his career. Benoît Saint Denis impressed with a second-round submission, and Jasmine Jasudavicius scored a first-round rear-naked choke victory over former champ Jessica Andrade, marking a huge statement in the women’s flyweight division.
In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko retained her flyweight title in a tough decision win over France’s Manon Fiorot, reaffirming her position as one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.
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