Jack Della Maddalena defeated Belal Muhammad by judges' decision in the main event of UFC 315 held overnight Saturday in Canada, winning his first UFC championship. The win marks Della Maddalena's 18th consecutive victory in professional mixed martial arts, continuing a streak that began after he lost his first two career fights.
Muhammad, who chose to represent the Palestinians despite being born and raised in Chicago, entered the octagon draped in a Palestinian flag commonly associated with the PLO. As the fight progressed and he realized he was falling behind, Muhammad attempted to shift momentum in the championship rounds by becoming more aggressive. His efforts paid off to some degree: he completed three takedowns out of five attempts in the final two rounds and managed to nearly shut Della Maddalena's right eye with a barrage of precise strikes.
But the Australian fighter had an answer for every move. He repeatedly escaped ground control and countered with relentless attacks, maintaining his dominance throughout the bout.
Muhammad, 36, has become a controversial figure in recent years, both for his fighting style and for his outspoken political statements. Often mocked online, he has faced criticism for benefiting from disputed judges' decisions and for using his UFC platform to regularly denounce Israel, particularly since the Hamas-led terrorist attack on October 7.
