Jack Della Maddalena ’s rise to the top of the welterweight division took another huge leap Saturday night, as he walked into the Bell Centre in Montreal and walked out with the UFC title. The Aussie put on a composed, surgical performance to defeat Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 , taking the belt and proving he’s not just a finisher—but a champion in full control. After the fight, he finally addressed one of the oddest narratives leading into the bout: the idea that Muhammad had hands like Canelo Alvarez .
Jack Della Maddalena sets the record straight on Belal Muhammad’s striking after UFC goldIn the weeks leading up to UFC 315, a lot of talk centered around Belal Muhammad’s striking. His coach stirred the pot by saying Muhammad had “Canelo hands”—a comparison to the elite-level boxing of Mexican superstar Canelo Álvarez. It raised eyebrows across the MMA world, mainly because Muhammad is best known for his wrestling and relentless pressure, not for outboxing opponents.
Still, to his credit, Muhammad came out at UFC 315 trying to show those hands off. He didn’t shy away from exchanges with Maddalena, staying in the pocket and looking to land. But as the rounds wore on, it became obvious who the better striker was. Maddalena’s timing, composure, and precision were on another level, and he picked Muhammad apart in exchanges, forcing him to second-guess every step forward.
After the win, Maddalena was asked in a YouTube interview with the Kariouz Bros whether the Canelo comparisons had any truth. His answer was straightforward:
“No, he didn’t, Canelo is the man, but he didn’t. Props to him, he said he would stand in there, I didn’t think he would, but he did.”
It was a respectful answer, but also an honest one. Maddalena gave Muhammad credit for not backing down, but made it clear there was no Canelo-level boxing on display.
Also Read: Paddy Pimblett silences critics with huge win Over Michael Chandler at UFC 314
Jack Della Maddalena didn’t just win the belt—he put a stop to any talk that Belal Muhammad was the next elite striker in the division. The Canelo comparisons? Done. Now, with the welterweight title around his waist and momentum on his side, all eyes are on Maddalena’s next challenge—possibly against Islam Makhachev , a completely different kind of problem. But for now, one thing’s certain: Jack Della Maddalena is the real deal.
Jack Della Maddalena sets the record straight on Belal Muhammad’s striking after UFC goldIn the weeks leading up to UFC 315, a lot of talk centered around Belal Muhammad’s striking. His coach stirred the pot by saying Muhammad had “Canelo hands”—a comparison to the elite-level boxing of Mexican superstar Canelo Álvarez. It raised eyebrows across the MMA world, mainly because Muhammad is best known for his wrestling and relentless pressure, not for outboxing opponents.
Still, to his credit, Muhammad came out at UFC 315 trying to show those hands off. He didn’t shy away from exchanges with Maddalena, staying in the pocket and looking to land. But as the rounds wore on, it became obvious who the better striker was. Maddalena’s timing, composure, and precision were on another level, and he picked Muhammad apart in exchanges, forcing him to second-guess every step forward.
After the win, Maddalena was asked in a YouTube interview with the Kariouz Bros whether the Canelo comparisons had any truth. His answer was straightforward:
“No, he didn’t, Canelo is the man, but he didn’t. Props to him, he said he would stand in there, I didn’t think he would, but he did.”
It was a respectful answer, but also an honest one. Maddalena gave Muhammad credit for not backing down, but made it clear there was no Canelo-level boxing on display.
Also Read: Paddy Pimblett silences critics with huge win Over Michael Chandler at UFC 314
Jack Della Maddalena didn’t just win the belt—he put a stop to any talk that Belal Muhammad was the next elite striker in the division. The Canelo comparisons? Done. Now, with the welterweight title around his waist and momentum on his side, all eyes are on Maddalena’s next challenge—possibly against Islam Makhachev , a completely different kind of problem. But for now, one thing’s certain: Jack Della Maddalena is the real deal.
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