UFC 315 receives major update as main card fight 'renegotiated'

Originally posted on MMA on SI | By Mathew Riddle | Last updated May 9, 2025 12:20 PM ET

Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

UFC 315 has received a main card update just a day out from broadcast.

The Montreal-based PPV features two title fights: Belal Muhammad defends his welterweight belt against Jack Della Maddalena, and Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight belt against Manon Fiorot.

The event has previously been hit with cancellations like Joel Alvarez pulling out against Benoit Saint-Denis, but in a new update, one of the core fights on the main card has been 'renegotiated.'

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi shifts weight class

Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi will now be fought at 145 lbs. The bout was originally scheduled as a bantamweight contest, and is now a featherweight fight.

The news comes during the official UFC 315 weigh-ins, during which the UFC notified fans without explanation that Aldo-Zahabi is now a featherweight fight.

UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena free weigh-in show live stream & full results

Speaking to Sportsnet, Zahabi revealed that Aldo couldn't make the cut, so the fight was readjusted.

"Firas [Zahabi] was receiving the texts and the calls to stop cutting," He explained. "José can’t make weight, he’s 145 . . . the commission in Montreal won’t allow a five-pound weight difference.

"There’s no 20 percent [fine], we have to do a featherweight fight. . . . We renegotiated with Sean Shelby, they gave me an offer that I accepted, and the fight’s on.”

"We renegotiated, they gave me an offer that I accepted, and the fight's on."@Aiemannzahabi discusses Jose Aldo being unable to make the bantamweight limit ahead of their bout at #UFC315, which will now be contested at featherweight pic.twitter.com/K23sdcSOAy
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 9, 2025

UFC 315: Final predictions for every main card fight

Aldo vs. Zahabi will continue as scheduled on the UFC 315 main card, but it could skew the odds in favor of Zahabi if Aldo has had a rough weight cut.

This article first appeared on MMA on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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