7 Hits & 3 Misses From UFC 315: Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena

For the primary time in a decade, the UFC arrived to Montreal, trying to convey the Bell Centre an evening of memorable motion with two title fights and a few rising stars to be careful for.

It was the UFC’s first go to to the largest metropolis within the Canadian province of Quebec since UFC 186 in 2015 — a card that was headlined by Demetrious Johnson retaining the UFC flyweight title in opposition to Kyoji Horiguchui.

Although Canadian expertise was featured in the course of the course of the night, the principle occasion’s focus was on the welterweight championship conflict between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena.

Muhammad had entered UFC 315 on an unbeaten streak that stretched again to 2019. He had risen his means up the ranks and all the best way as much as the UFC championship, taking out names comparable to Demian Maia, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, Sean Brady and Gilbert Burns. He captured the gold with a choice win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304.

Standing throughout the cage from him was Jack Della Maddalena — who was given this chance a few months in the past when Shavkat Rakhmonov was nonetheless unable to make the stroll on account of damage. JDM hadn’t misplaced since dropping his first two bouts as a professional and was an ideal 7-0 within the UFC. It was additionally JDM’s first struggle since defeating Burns at UFC 299 final 12 months.

Gold was additionally on the road within the co-main occasion as Valentina Shevchenko seemed to defend the UFC ladies’s flyweight championship in opposition to Manon Fiorot.

This was Shevchenko’s first struggle not in opposition to Alexa Grasso since recapturing the 125-pound title of their trilogy struggle again in September. Outdoors of the 20 months or in order that Grasso was carrying the gold, Shevchenko had been dominating the division since profitable the title at UFC 231 in December 2018. Most, if not all, challengers that got here up in opposition to her have been utterly outclassed.

Like her title challenger counterpart on the night, Fiorot hadn’t misplaced a struggle since her personal skilled MMA debut. Fiorot had rapidly made impressions since coming into the UFC, taking out notable names within the division that included Mayra Bueno Silva, Jennifer Maia, Katlyn Cerminara, Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield.

Who delivered in Canada? Who didn’t? Let’s go into it along with the hits and misses of UFC 315!

Hit – Hometown Hero Barriault

I had been in debate about whether or not or to not embody this, given Bruno Silva being stretchered out on the finish of this struggle. However with Silva seemingly okay within the UFC’s updates, and “bonuses” misses I would like to offer, I’ve determined to offer this successful.

Marc-André Barriault had one of many earliest robust performances on the evening, ending Silva in the course of the early prelims. After each males landed large early and Silva momentarily dumped Barriault to the mat, Barriault put Silva away with some vicious elbows within the clinch. They didn’t simply do large injury, however considered one of them dropped Silva out chilly.

It was an unimaginable and much-needed efficiency for Barriault. Coming into this struggle off three straight losses, Barriault could have been going through the chopping block with a loss right here. As a substitute, he will get to have a serious knockout and memorable efficiency in entrance of a crowd in his residence nation.

Miss – No matter These Judges’ Scorecards Had been

To cite commentary after Melvin Manhoef vs. Rafael Carvalho at Bellator 155, “The one factor extra disappointing than that struggle, was that horrendous resolution.” Not solely was Mondestas Bukauskas vs. Ion Cutelaba a letdown, however the nature of the bout’s resolution left MMA followers both scratching their heads or stuffed with rage.

Although it wasn’t his most enjoyable efficiency, Cutelaba appeared to do sufficient over three rounds. He utilized early pressured, delivered damaging calf kicks and had robust clinch work. Although Bukauskas had his moments — particularly within the ultimate spherical the place he stuffed takedowns and landed counters — his total output was inconsistent. Regardless of Cutelaba’s early work, the judges have been cut up in baffling trend.

Even in the event you don’t think about this struggle a theft, the character of the scorecards being in every single place is what’s complicated. How can we get to some extent the place there’s a 30-27 scorecard for one fighter and a 30-27 for the opposite? How on earth did Pasquale Procopio see all three rounds for Bukauskas anyway? There are extra questions than solutions, and we’re by no means going to get any (I’ve issues with two judges giving Belal Muhammad spherical one in his struggle in opposition to Jack Della Maddalena, too, however I digress…)

As soon as once more, popping out of an MMA card, we’re speaking about dangerous judging. How is it 2025 and we’re nonetheless on this? It’s tiring, and if we’re not going to get the World/PRIDE scoring system into the Unified Guidelines of MMA, then why can’t we a minimum of hear from judges after controversial scorecards like these? Sadly, that’ll by no means occur.

Hit – Jasmine Jasudavicius On The Rise

I’ve been a fan of Jasmine Jasudavicius for a short while now, and it’s clear that she could also be a future star within the flyweight division after the efficiency she placed on within the win over former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade.

Utilizing her bodily benefits, Jasudavicius overwhelmed Andrade on the ft earlier than taking her down with ease. She then swiftly transitioned right into a rear-naked choke for the submission win.

The efficiency was as emphatic because it was environment friendly, pushing Jasudavicius firmly into title competition. Will she be subsequent in line for a shot on the title? No. However this struggle has proven she’s prepared for prime competitors. And will probably be fascinating to see what Jasudavicius can do in opposition to one other notable contender within the division proper now — be it former champ Alexa Grasso, Erin Blanchfield, Maycee Barber or Rose Namajunas.

Hit – Is Natalia Silva Prepared For A Title Shot?

Jasmine Jasudavicius could also be nonetheless one other couple of fights away from a title shot. Natalia Silva, alternatively, could also be subsequent in line after her robust win over former champion Alexa Grasso.

Silva utilized her pace and sharp strikes to regulate all three rounds in opposition to the previous champion. Silva repeatedly discovered success with leg kicks, fast mixtures and slick footwork, whereas Grasso struggled to search out openings and momentum.

Silva has now scored victories over two former UFC champions in Jessica Andrade and Grasso. And the form of efficiency she placed on in opposition to the very lady who interrupted Valentina Shevchenko’s dominance at 125 could be sufficient to make her subsequent in line for the gold. If not, a title eliminator in opposition to one other top-5 ranked performer isn’t out of the query — and a win there would make it simple.

Hit – A Wild Third Spherical Between Jose Aldo And Aiemann Zahabi

Jose Aldo’s MMA profession won’t have ended with a win or a tribute video package deal. Nevertheless it did finish with an thrilling bout in opposition to Aiemann Zahabi that included a ultimate spherical that might be up for Spherical of the 12 months nominations in any MMA Finish of 12 months awards.

Aldo’s ahead stress and mixtures had introduced him an early edge within the struggle, however a robust efficiency within the second spherical from Zahabi made the struggle shut. The third spherical, nevertheless, noticed wild momentum swings. Aldo dropped Zahabi early however couldn’t discover the end. A fatigued Aldo when noticed Zahabi capitalize, unloading punches, elbows, and ground-and-pound as he seemed for a end of his personal. In a struggle that noticed so shut, Zahabi’s late momentum within the ultimate two rounds earned him the nod in a struggle that might have been scored both means.

Although Zahabi is 37, this win continues a string of success he has been on for the final 5 years now. Folks can have their opinions on how he’d carry out in opposition to the very best contenders in a stacked bantamweight division, however it will possibly’t be denied that he’s a minimum of earned the chance to struggle a top-10 contender at 135 now.

Hit – A Tribute To A Legendary Profession

I may deal with Aldo’s weight points coming into this week. I may deal with his fuel tank emptying out in the course of the flurry within the third spherical. However I’m not going to do any of that.

I’m as an alternative going to take the time and pay my respects to one of many biggest careers this sport has seen. Jose Aldo is among the causes we discuss in regards to the lighter weight lessons within the modern-day and age of MMA. Through the occasions when the UFC wasn’t internet hosting fights beneath 155 kilos, folks like Jose Aldo have been making a killing and displaying their abilities. Aldo dominated the featherweight scene within the WEC, and that continued when he grew to become the inaugural UFC featherweight champion, pulling off victory after victory earlier than competing in opposition to Conor McGregor at UFC 194 — one of many business’s most memorable and extremely publicized title fights.

From Cub Swanson to Urijah Faber, from Chad Mendes to “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung-Jung, from Frankie Edgar to Max Holloway, Jose Aldo has been within the cage with a few of the biggest to ever be on this sport. And never solely did he dominate in his prime, however Aldo even confirmed he may nonetheless go as he nears 39 years of age.

A cheerful retirement to the legend and UFC Corridor of Famer! A toast to his memorable profession!

Hit – One Step Nearer To The Subsequent Girls’s Superfight?

There have been loads of questions on Valentina Shevchenko heading into this struggle. Despite profitable again the ladies’s flyweight title in September, the interruption to her reign, mixed with Manon Fiorot’s measurement and profitable streak, led to Shevchenko being pegged because the underdog heading into this struggle regardless of being defending champ.

However Shevchenko proved how oddsmakers typically simply don’t get it.

Shevchenko began robust with sharp placing and a takedown within the first spherical, however Fiorot took management within the center rounds with clinch management and elevated aggression. Shevchenko tried to take momentum again within the fourth with highly effective physique kicks, a takedown, and a knockdown within the closing seconds. The fifth spherical remained tight, however Shevchenko’s consistency and impactful moments all through earned her the unanimous resolution on all three scorecards.

So, what’s subsequent for Shevchenko? There are nonetheless a few names in competition (just like the aforementioned Silva and Jasudavicius). However, in fact, the struggle loads of folks need to see is a superfight between Shevchenko and girls’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang. Zhang will in all probability nonetheless should cope with Virna Jandiroba, then relying on if the UFC matchmakers need Silva as the following flyweight challenger or not, a Zhang win there may imply there can’t be one other struggle nevertheless it.

Hit – JDM Turns Alternative Into Gold

Jack Della Maddalena would have gotten the chance to be a champion tonight. He was imagined to be combating in the principle occasion of UFC London a few months in the past, taking up Leon Edwards. However with Shavkat Rakhmonov nonetheless on the sidelines, JDM was granted the possibility to problem Belal Muhammad. Now, after 25 minutes within the Octagon, JDM has managed to show a sudden probability right into a jackpot, strolling out of UFC 315 the brand new UFC welterweight champion.

JDM largely dictated the tempo with technical placing. Muhammad held his personal early and even managed to safe some positional management late, together with a takedown and transient again management in spherical 4. JDM’s placing quantity and accuracy, in addition to his capacity to stuff takedowns, nevertheless, stored him in management for many of the struggle. Regardless of Muhammad’s finest efforts within the fifth, together with a second the place he appeared to wobble his challenger within the fifth and landed floor management, JDM persistently rebounded and reasserted his rhythm, doubtless sealing an in depth however clear resolution win and the championship.

You need to really feel good for somebody like JDM finishing his rise towards the gold. This opens up loads of potential choices for what might be subsequent at 170, and right here’s hoping that this injects some pleasure within the division.

On that be aware of what might be subsequent, nevertheless…

Miss – No Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria?

A longstanding perception heading into this previous weekend’s card was {that a} JDM win would end in Islam Makhachev transferring as much as 170 to problem him for the UFC welterweight championship. That very properly should be the case regardless that there’s no official announcement but.

Nevertheless it these are the plans, then sadly JDM’s victory brings us a monkey’s paw situation. As it could imply a light-weight title struggle between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria can be off.

Let me state this for the document: I used to be not a fan of Topuria’s resolution to vacate the featherweight championship. Although he received the belt and retained it as soon as in opposition to two of the greats in, respectively, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway (the previous of whom has now regained the title), there have been nonetheless fights available for Topuria at 145. He didn’t clear the division; Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev have been chomping on the bit for title alternatives. Topuria’s reign was imagined to current us with contemporary concepts for the division.

That mentioned, if we don’t get to see Topuria vs. Makhachev, will probably be a disappoint. These two are with out query two of the very best athletes within the sport. And in a time once we say MMA is in a recession, in a time when Jon Jones appears to not need to unify the heavyweight title with Tom Aspinall, in a time during which the game’s greatest star ever in Conor McGregor seems to be out of the image for good now (for higher or worse [maybe and instead of or]), and when one of many UFC’s different pound-for-pound names in Alex Pereira seems to be having negotiation points with the promotion, a serious struggle like Topuria vs. Makhachev is a welcome sight.

Topuria vs. Oliveira and JDM vs. Makhachev are strong fights, however will probably be a case of “what may have been” if that is so. And if Topuria vs. Makhachev does ever find yourself getting booked, we’d hope it’s not a case of “[insert timeframe here] too late.”

However on that be aware…

Miss – STILL No UFC 317 Fundamental Occasion?

UFC CEO Dana White promised us a solution to the questions concerning a UFC 317 primary occasion (together with the conditions seen above) following UFC 315. However lo and behold, UFC 315 has come and gone, and we nonetheless don’t have a solution.

White didn’t even seem on the press convention. As a substitute, Dave Shaw, the UFC’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations, was there and promised a solution can be delivered within the coming week.

To which my response is, it higher.

From the time of this piece’s publication, we’re 47 days out from UFC 317, which is that this 12 months’s Worldwide Battle Week card. It’s had it’s fair proportion of shake-ups to primary occasions in its historical past, nevertheless it’s all the time an occasion UFC places loads of inventory into.

And with just below seven weeks to go, an occasion that has all these hooked up occasions to it — a Corridor of Fame induction ceremony, fan expo, and so on. — has no introduced primary occasion. Even UFC 318 to be held the next month has a primary occasion introduced.

UFC 315 was supposed to offer us solutions. Proper now we’re nonetheless left with questions, and if we don’t get solutions in just a few days time, the UFC must be given much more flack.

Source link