Australian fighter Jack Della Maddalena captured the UFC welterweight championship by defeating Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision at UFC 315 on May 10, 2025, in Montreal. The judges scored the bout 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in favor of Della Maddalena, marking his 18th consecutive professional victory and ending Muhammad's six-year unbeaten streak.

Della Maddalena, known for his boxing prowess, effectively neutralized Muhammad's wrestling-based offense by thwarting several takedown attempts, keeping the fight predominantly in the stand-up domain. The match reached a climactic point in the final round when Della Maddalena landed a decisive knee strike that cut Muhammad. Despite this, Muhammad responded with a takedown and ground strikes, but Della Maddalena rebounded with powerful punches to secure the victory.

Born on September 10, 1996, in Perth, Western Australia, Della Maddalena has a background in boxing and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ben Vickers. Prior to this fight, he was on a 17-fight winning streak, with notable victories including a knockout win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 in April 2023. His professional record now stands at 18 wins and 2 losses.

Belal Muhammad, an American fighter of Palestinian descent, had been the UFC Welterweight Champion since July 2024, when he dethroned Leon Edwards. Before facing Della Maddalena, Muhammad was on a six-year unbeaten streak. He is known for his wrestling skills and had the fourth-highest takedown defense percentage in UFC welterweight history at 89.4%.

The matchup between Muhammad and Della Maddalena was arranged after the originally scheduled challenger, Shavkat Rakhmonov, withdrew due to injury. Della Maddalena was initially set to fight Leon Edwards in London but was redirected to the title bout at UFC 315.

Leading up to the fight, Muhammad expressed confidence in his striking abilities, stating his intention to outbox Della Maddalena without resorting to takedowns. He humorously suggested that Della Maddalena should "get a little bit racist" to hype the fight, indicating a lack of animosity between the fighters.

Della Maddalena's victory signifies a significant shift in the UFC welterweight division, introducing a new champion with a striking-centric style. In his post-fight comments, Della Maddalena expressed interest in challenging lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, aiming to avenge fellow Australian Alexander Volkanovski's loss to Makhachev.

Makhachev, in response, announced his intention to move up to the welterweight division to become a double champion, following Muhammad's defeat. This potential move could set up a high-profile bout between Della Maddalena and Makhachev, adding intrigue to the UFC's championship landscape.

In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her flyweight title against Manon Fiorot, ending Fiorot's 12-fight win streak. Shevchenko secured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 48-47 on all three judges' scorecards.

Della Maddalena's ascent to the championship highlights the growing prominence of Australian fighters in the UFC, potentially inspiring increased interest and participation in mixed martial arts within Australia. His victory also underscores the effectiveness of striking-based fighters in a division traditionally dominated by wrestlers, possibly influencing training and fighting strategies among welterweight contenders.

As the UFC welterweight division enters this new era, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Della Maddalena's reign unfolds and how potential challengers, including Islam Makhachev, will shape the future of the division.