Cheima Moufdil
Jack Della Maddalena delivered a career-defining performance at UFC 315, overcoming Belal Muhammad in a five-round thriller to become the new UFC welterweight champion.
Fighting for the first time in over a year, the Australian looked sharper than ever, unleashing a relentless display of striking that tested Muhammad's legendary toughness. From the opening bell, Della Maddalena's precision jab, brutal leg kicks, and thudding right hands set the tone, while Muhammad absorbed the punishment and kept pressing forward.
The action was high-octane throughout. Muhammad fired back with clean counters, refused to fold, and even secured a key takedown late in the fight. But Della Maddalena's volume and power were the difference, as he edged out a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards: 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.
“It feels good,” Della Maddalena said in the cage. “I knew I had to be smart. Belal’s the man — a tough dude. Australia, we got three of these babies, let’s go!”
Muhammad’s grit was on full display, but his decision to trade strikes instead of leaning on his wrestling for extended stretches may have cost him. He found success in close quarters and even opened a cut with a knee, but Della Maddalena’s late-fight surge sealed the deal — a sharp combo in the fifth round rocked Muhammad and punctuated the Aussie’s night.
Now, with the gold around his waist, Della Maddalena is already looking ahead — and the name on his radar is none other than Islam Makhachev.
“I think it’s a beautiful challenge,” he said. “He’s pound-for-pound No. 1. I’m going to get him back for [Alexander Volkanovski].”
A star is born at 170 pounds — and the division has a dangerous new king.