Jack Della Maddalena, an Australian fighter with a notable boxing background, clinched the UFC welterweight championship by defeating Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision at UFC 315. The decisive moment came in a frantic final round where Muhammad was left bleeding from a knee strike.
Della Maddalena, hailing from Perth, successfully defended against numerous takedown attempts from the wrestling specialist Muhammad, keeping the bout largely on the feet. This impressive victory marked his 18th consecutive professional win and simultaneously ended Muhammad`s six-year unbeaten streak.
“He brings the pressure. I knew I had to be sharp on my feet,” Della Maddalena stated. “I wanted to take him out of there. I was gunning for a finish but Belal is a tough dude.”
The 28-year-old champion has already set his sights on a significant new challenge: a potential fight against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who previously defeated fellow Australian champion Alexander Volkanovski.
“I think it’s a beautiful challenge. He`s the pound-for-pound No 1. I want to get him back for Volk,” Della Maddalena expressed, highlighting his ambition.
Co-Main Event: Shevchenko Retains Flyweight Belt
In the highly anticipated co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan successfully defended her flyweight title, securing a unanimous decision victory over Manon Fiorot. This bout marked Fiorot`s first professional loss after an impressive 12-fight winning streak.
Shevchenko’s powerful right hooks caused Fiorot`s nose to bleed early in the first round. However, the resilient French contender rallied, pinning Shevchenko against the cage and delivering knees from the clinch in the subsequent two rounds.
Despite Fiorot`s efforts, Shevchenko regained control, skillfully escaping a body lock and scoring a knockdown in the fourth round. She sealed her 48-47 victory on all three judges` scorecards in the fifth and final round with a perfectly executed spinning backfist and a superwoman punch.
