Muhammad makes first title defence against Della Maddalena

Belal Muhammad will make the first defence of his Welterweight Championship when he faces Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 315, set for the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, on the morning of Sunday 11 May 2025.

Muhammad (24-3) claimed the title in July last year when he defeated Leon Edwards via unanimous decision at UFC 304 – an 11th straight undefeated match in a sequence which has taken the 36-year-old Palestinian-American to the top of the division.

The challenger is 28-year-old Australian Della Maddalena (17-2), who has earned this title shot on the back of a 17-match winning streak (seven in the UFC), with his latest scalps being Kevin Holland and Gilbert Burns.

Della Maddalena was supposed to have fought Edwards at a Fight Night in London in March, but was given an opportunity for a Championship bout and says it was an “easy decision” to switch.

“Bit of a change in opponent but I am pretty confident I can get the win. I'm ready to tackle the next few weeks, sharpen the tools and come in the best version of myself,” said the Aussie.

Muhammad, meanwhile, insists he is the best fighter in the division: “I am the best striker in the welterweight division. I am the best grappler, I am the best wrestler, I am the best fighter.

"We've seen it. Leon Edwards – he was the next one up. He knocked out Kamaru Usman and I made it look easy. I am going to make it look easy on [11] May [against Della Maddalena]. People keep doubting me and I am just going to keep breaking those barriers.”

The co-main event is a Women’s Flyweight Championship match in which Valentina Shevchenko (24-4-1) will make the first defence of her second title reign, coming up against Manon Fiorot (12-1).

The latter, a Frenchwoman nicknamed ‘The Beast’, has put together a 12-match winning run (seven in the UFC) and ‘Bullet’ insists that she is taking nothing for granted.

“She can do whatever she wants,” said Shevchenko. “Every time I’m respecting my opponents. I know that [a] fight is [a] fight. It’s a very dangerous situation, doesn’t matter who’s in front of you. Leading to the fight, I have respect for all my opponents. I’m just gonna do everything I have to do to win the fight.”

The rest of the main card features Alexa Grasso v Natalia Silva in another women’s bantamweight clash; MMA legend Jose Aldo takes on fellow bantamweight Aiemann Zahabi; and a lightweight battle pits Benoit Saint Denis against Joel Alvarez.

UFC 315 – MAIN CARD

- Main event: Welterweight Championship: Belal Muhammad v Jack Della Maddalena

- Co-main: Women’s Flyweight Championship: Valentina Shevchenko v Manon Fiorot

- Bantamweight: Jose Aldo v Aiemann Zahabi

- Women’s flyweight: Alexa Grasso v Natalia Silva

- Lightweight: Benoit Saint Denis v Joel Alvarez