Just days before UFC 315, Jack Della Maddalena’s game plan for his welterweight title bout against Belal Muhammad was inadvertently revealed on UFC Embedded. The leak showcased a whiteboard listing ten specific striking combinations and defensive tactics, including strategies for situations with his back against the cage. This insight confirmed Della Maddalena’s intent to keep the fight standing, leveraging his superior boxing skills to counter Muhammad’s renowned wrestling prowess
Despite the premature exposure of his strategy, Della Maddalena executed his plan flawlessly. In the main event at Montreal’s Bell Centre, he secured a unanimous decision victory over Muhammad with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47. The Australian fighter effectively neutralized Muhammad’s takedown attempts, successfully defending six out of nine, and outstruck him 200 to 155. Della Maddalena’s precise striking and adept distance management were pivotal in his triumph .
This victory not only extended Della Maddalena’s unbeaten streak to 18 fights but also marked his ascent as the first Australian UFC welterweight champion. Looking ahead, he has expressed interest in challenging lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, signaling his ambition to ascend further in the UFC hierarchy .
Interestingly, Muhammad’s decision to engage predominantly in striking, deviating from his usual wrestling-centric approach, may have been influenced by the leaked game plan. This strategic shift proved detrimental, as Della Maddalena capitalized on his striking advantage to clinch the title
