Jack Della Maddalena Is the new welterweight champion

Jack Della Maddalena literally dominated Belal Muhammad in UFC 315’s main event Saturday night.

Della Maddelena only allowed one takedown from Muhammad that led to him securing the welterweight championship

“Coming in there against someone like Belal, with that sort of pressure wrestling, I knew I had to be smart, and I couldn’t spend too much time on my back,” Della Maddalena said.

Della Maddelena won the five-rounder by scores of 48-47, 48-47, 49-45.

Della Maddalena used volume striking to frustrate the now-former welterweight champion, nearly finishing the fight on several occasions. Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA) has now won 18 in a row. Muhammad (24-4, 1 NC) was making his first title defense and had won 11 consecutive fights.

In a post-fight interview, Della Maddalena gave credit to Muhammad for his toughness in not giving up the title so easily.

“It felt (expletive) good,” the Australian Della Maddalena said with a smile.

Della Maddalena said he’s intrigued by UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s possible move to welterweight and he’s open to exacting revenge on Makhachev.

“I think it’s a beautiful challenge,” Della Maddalena said of what will be his first title defense. “He’s pound-for-pound No. 1. I’m going to get it back for Volk.”

This is the first loss of Muhammad since 2019.