Della Maddalena dethrones Muhammad

Jack Della Maddalena is the new Welterweight World Champion after defeating Belal Muhammad in a classic fight at UFC 315 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, on the morning of Sunday 11 May 2025.

The Australian took the fight 48-47 48-47 49-46 on the judges' score cards, claiming the victory on the back of his outstanding striking and ability to defend takedown attempts from the champion.

Muhammad, in his first title defence, perhaps got his tactics wrong, allowing JDM to find his rhythm by not level changing with more regularity early in the match, though the Palestinian-American came on strong in the last two rounds.

Both fighters ended the match bruised and bloodied, though Della Maddalena had clearly done more damage and come closer to finding a finish – with his edge in both precision and brutality deservedly securing a victory on points.

“It feels exactly like I thought it would feel, it feels f***ing good,” said Della Maddalena in his post-fight interview.

In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her Women’s Flyweight Championship with a narrow victory over Manon Fiorot, taking the fight 48-47 48-47 48-47 on the judges’ score cards.

An incredibly tight match saw Shevchenko land more strikes – including knocking Fiorot down at the end of round four, only for her attempt at a finish to be denied by the horn – though the contender kept herself in with a chance thanks to her grappling and strength in the clinch.

“I was expecting a hard fight, Manon is a hard opponent,” said Shevchenko in her post-fight interview, having competed in her 13th title match and added to a legacy which will see her ranked as one of the greatest female UFC athletes of all time.

In the rest of the main card, MMA great Jose Aldo appeared to have the final fight of his career, narrowly losing on points to Aiemann Zahabi in a featherweight fight before declaring, “I don’t think I have it in me any more,” via an interpreter in his post-fight interview; Natalia Silva overcame Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision in a women’s flyweight match; and Benoit Saint Denis submitted Kyle Prepolec in the second round of their lightweight opener.

The UFC continues next week with a Fight Night at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas, headlined by a welterweight match between Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales.

UFC 315 – MAIN CARD RESULTS

- Main event: Welterweight Championship: Jack Della Maddalena def. Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (48-47 48-47 49-46), R5, 5:00

- Co-main: Women’s Flyweight Championship: Valentina Shevchenko def. Manon Fiorot via unanimous decision (48-47 48-47 48-47), R5, 5:00

- Featherweight: Aiemann Zahabi def. Jose Aldo via unanimous decision (29-28 29-28 29-28), R3, 5:00

- Women’s flyweight: Natalia Silva def. Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision (30-27 30-27 30-27), R3, 5:00

- Lightweight: Benoit Saint Denis def. Kyle Prepolec via submission (arm-triangle choke), R2, 2:35