UFC 315 results, highlights: Jack Della Maddalena uses superb boxing against Belal Muhammad to win welterweight gold
Context:
Jack Della Maddalena showcased exceptional boxing skills to defeat Belal Muhammad and claim the UFC welterweight title at UFC 315. Della Maddalena's precise striking and strong takedown defense overwhelmed Muhammad, who was unable to leverage his ground game effectively. Valentina Shevchenko retained her flyweight title against Manon Fiorot through a strategic match, displaying her ability to adapt and counter effectively. Aiemann Zahabi secured a victory over Jose Aldo, who announced his retirement following the fight, marking the end of a legendary career. Natalia Silva emerged as a formidable contender by defeating Alexa Grasso, enhancing her position in the flyweight division with a dominant performance.
Dive Deeper:
Jack Della Maddalena's victory over Belal Muhammad was marked by his dominant boxing skills and strategic use of leg kicks, which kept Muhammad at bay and unable to utilize his ground game effectively. Della Maddalena's impressive performance included landing 178 significant strikes, leading to a unanimous decision win.
Valentina Shevchenko defended her UFC flyweight title against Manon Fiorot in a tactical bout that saw both fighters exchanging strikes and engaging in strategic maneuvers. Shevchenko's ability to avoid takedowns and land precise counters earned her the decision victory, extending her successful title reign.
Aiemann Zahabi defeated Jose Aldo in a closely contested fight that highlighted Aldo's initial control before Zahabi capitalized on Aldo's fatigue in the final round. Zahabi's win marked his sixth consecutive victory, while Aldo announced his retirement from MMA, concluding a storied career.
Natalia Silva's win over Alexa Grasso demonstrated her striking prowess and ability to evade takedowns, solidifying her position as a top contender in the flyweight division. Silva's victory extended her winning streak to 13, making her a formidable challenger for future title opportunities.
Benoit Saint-Denis returned to form with a decisive submission victory over Kyle Prepolec, showcasing his aggressive style and effective use of takedowns and ground control. Saint-Denis' win marked his first since 2023, rejuvenating his standing as a rising contender in the division.
Once the hunter, Belal Muhammad was the hunted at UFC 315, an unfamiliar feeling. The UFC welterweight champion promised to show that same hunger and land strikes against Jack Della Maddalena, similar to Canelo Alvarez.
Unfortunately for Muhammad, Della Maddalena outboxed him on his way to go from Contender Series alum to the UFC welterweight champion.
Della Maddalena (18-2) used his excellent boxing skills to damage Muhammad (24-4, 1 NC) through the fight. He used leg kicks to force Muhammad back and jabs to damage his face. Muhammad got busted open at some point, and he didn’t utilize his ground game to take Della Maddalena down.
Speaking of, outside striking, JDM had an incredible takedown defense mark against Muhammad, with the latter only landing three of nine. Della Maddalena landed 178 of 342 significant strikes, not discriminating where he landed them. It was an incredible display of power against a durable Muhammad.
Round three saw both exchange shots, but Della Maddalena didn’t tire out as the fight continued. He proved that with a flurry in the fifth that could have taken Muhammad out if he was slightly more aggressive. The Perth-born star has won 18 straight, while Muhammad’s unbeaten streak, which started in 2019, has ended.
The fight was significant as it determined if the UFC would book Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria. Della Maddalena is ready to potentially face Makhachev, the man who beat fellow Aussie Alexander Volkanovski twice.
“I think it’s a beautiful challenge. He’s pound-for-pound No. 1. I’m going to get him back for Volk,” Della Maddalena said.
THE KNEE EARNS A CUT IN THE FINAL ROUND 😮💨
[ #UFC315 | Jack Della Maddalena ] pic.twitter.com/senNkqEcMi— UFC (@ufc) May 11, 2025 Manon Fiorot bided her time, beating top contenders and was the backup for fights featuring Valentina Shevchenko. The French fighter was due for a title shot, but Shevchenko was inevitable. “The Bullet” retained the UFC flyweight title in a chess match.
Shevchenko (25-4-1) was forced to fight back as Fiorot (12–2) went shot for shot with her. She forced Shevchenko into the cage several times, partly to avoid further damage to her nose. Shevchenko managed to avoid several takedown attempts by Fiorot while landing a few of her own.
Round three was a chess match, but the rest of the fight was all Shevchenko, who earned the decision win. Shevchenko is now 2-0-1 in her last three fights and may have contenders already waiting for her (more on that later).
It was a wild fight between Aiemann Zahabi and Jose Aldo. Aldo controlled the first half of the fight. The second round was considered debatable. And then the third round happened. Aldo almost had the fight won thanks to leg kicks, but he got winded right after.
Zahabi took advantage of Aldo’s weariness, which included Aldo looking at the clock with three minutes left. On the floor, Aldo got rocked with elbows, which almost marked the end of the fight. Zahabi has won six straight.
After the fight, Aldo, a Hall of Famer who has gone 1-3 in his last four fights, called it a career for the second time.
Shevchenko may have a new contender to worry about, as Natalia Silva beat former Shevchenko rival Alexa Grasso. The Brazilian outclassed the former champion, landing punishing kicks all over her body. She avoided massive takedowns and absorbed several jabs.
Silva has now won 13 straight. She may also have some competition, as Jasmine Jasudavicius beat former world champion Jessica Andrade via submission earlier in the night. Ranked ninth in the division as of UFC 315, Jasudavicius has now won five straight.
On a two-fight losing streak, a lot was riding on the line for Benoit Saint-Denis. He returned to form by submitting Kyle Prepolec in the second round. The French fighter landed massive takedowns and elbows.
After almost submitting Prepolec in round one, Saint-Denis finished the job in round two. The aggressive Saint-Denis gets his first win since 2023.
The Sporting News provided results, analysis, and highlights for UFC 315.
UFC 315 results, highlights
Jack Della Maddalena dethrones Belal Muhammad
Round five: Della Maddalena with big jabs. Muhammad with strikes of his own, landing a nice kick to the body. The champion was providing pressure. Big jab and a right from Della Maddalena. High knee from Della Maddalena. Big right from Muhammad. Takedown from Muhammad. Elbow from Della Maddalena.Big left pushed Muhammad back. He landed combinations against Muhammad. Della Maddalena with body shots. Muhammad with a takedown but Della Maddalena got back up. High knee from Della Maddalena. Della Maddalena let Muhammad off the hook with strikes. Della Maddalena won via unanimous decision!
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Muhammad (48-47 Della Maddalena)
Round four: Della Maddalena continued to land the jab with efficiency. Muhammad landed a right. The champion provided some pressure, landing the better of the shots between the two. Della Maddalena with a counter right. Muhammad with several big uppercuts. They exchanged a few shots. Della Maddalena avoided a takedown, but Muhammad took his back. Della Maddalena got out of the hold. Dirty boxing from Muhammad. Big jab by Della Maddalena.
Della Maddalena continued to block takedowns. Big right from Della Maddalena.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Muhammad (39-37 Della Maddalena)
Round three: Della Maddalena continued to land leg kicks. Muhammad got hit with a massive right. High kick from Della Maddalena along with jabs. His head movement looked fantastic. Jabs by Della Maddalena. Muhammad with a jab. Della Maddalena continued to use his boxing to chip away at Muhammad. Both exchanged rights. Double jabs from Muhammad. Big right from Della Maddalena. Big right from Della Maddalena, as Muhammad has attempted to go shot for shot. They exchanged shots, with Della Maddalena landing the better of the two.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Della Maddalena (30-27)
Round two: Side kick from Muhammad to open round two. Kicks connected from Della Maddalena. Right hand by Muhammad. Jab by Della Maddalena, who got hit with a kick after dropping down. A strike landed from Della Maddalena. Big jab and right hand from Della Maddalena. He continued using leg kicks. Inside leg kick from Jack. Level change from Muhammad. Inside, Della Maddalena landed crisp punches. Big right from Muhammad. Della Maddalena landed one of his own, busting Muhammad open.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Della Maddalena (20-18 Della Maddalena)
Round one: Della Maddalena pressed forward to start things off, landing a jab. He landed a huge right. He landed a right and an inside leg kick. Leg kick from Muhammad connected. Right hand from Muhammad. Big punch from Muhammad. High kick from Della Maddalena followed by a left. Leg kicks from Della Maddalena connected. Takedown attempt from Muhammad. Uppercut from Della Maddalena. Muhammad with combinations.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Della Maddalena
The main event is up next. Belal Muhammad defends the UFC welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena.
Valentina Shevchenko defends gold in chess match against Manon Fiorot
Round five: Fiorot got hit with counter rights. Level change from Shevchenko. Kick from Fiorot but Shevchenko landed a hard shot. Flurries from Shevchenko. Superman punch from Shevchenko. Shevchenko with combinations. Fiorot forced her by the cage. They exchanged shots in the final minute. Spinning attack from Shevchenko, who won via unanimous decision.SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Shevchenko (48-47 Shevchenko)
Round four: Shevchenko with a few jabs and a spinning kick that connected. Kick to the chest by Fiorot, who then forced Shevchenko into the cage. Fiorot landed punches from the inside. Knee from Shevchenko. Spinning kick pushed Fiorot back. Knees to the body from Fiorot. Takedown from Shevchenko. They got up right away. By the cage, Fiorot kept Shevchenko by the cage. Counter right hand and combinations dropped Fiorot before the bell.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Shevchenko (38-38)
SHEVCHENKO DROPPPED FIOROT TO END THE ROUND 😳 #UFC315 pic.twitter.com/gkAQkQpxih
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 11, 2025 Round three: Leg kick from Fiorot and Shevchenko responded with one of her own. Fiorot just missed with a high kick. Elbow from Fiorot. Shevchenko was running away a bit after Fiorot landed flurries. Knees by Fiorot. They both exchanged knees on the inside. Fiorot forced the champion by the cage. The third round was a chess match. Spinning back fist by Shevchenko. Fiorot forced Shevchenko into the cage.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Fiorot (29-28 Fiorot)
Round two: Fiorot pushed Shevchenko into the cage, as she tried to protect her nose. Back in the middle, Spinning kick from Shevchenko just connected. Takedown by Shevchenko but Fiorot got right back up. Fiorot tried again, but Fiorot was too strong. By the cage, Fiorot chopped away at the legs of Shevchenko. Slicing elbow by Fiorot. Level change as Fiorot dropped Shevchenko.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Fiorot (19-19)
Round one: Fiorot got pushed back with a right hand. The French fighter tried to press forward, but Shevchenko landed a big right. They traded leg kicks. Shevchenko landed for power. Fiorot with a side kick. Shevchenko landed flurries. Right hand from Shevchenko. Fiorot's nose was bleeding as Shevchenko landed counter shots. Shevchenko forced Fiorot to the floor and attacked the body.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Shevchenko
The co-main event is up next. Valentina Shevchenko defends the UFC flyweight title against Manon Fiorot.
Aiemann Zahabi beats Jose Aldo in Aldo's swan song
Zahabi won via unanimous decision. Wow. Aldo retired from MMA following the fight.11:40 p.m. ET: Zahabi got hit with a few shots to open round three. Aldo used fast hands. Knee to the body from Zahabi. Right hand, a knee, and a head kick from Aldo as Zahabi retreated. Zahabi with knees from the inside. Aldo seemed distracted. Aldo tried for the takedown and missed. Elbows from Zahabi. Aldo was laying on the floor. What a wild twist. An elbow split Aldo open.
KNEE FROM ALDO PUTS ZAHABI DOWN 🤯 #UFC315 pic.twitter.com/eCeLr0xxss
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) May 11, 2025 11:33 p.m. ET: Knee to the body by Zahabi to open round two. He landed a jab as Zahabi landed a front kick. Exchanging strikes, Aldo landed the better of the two. Body shot by Aldo. Left hand from Zahabi. Aldo got hit below the belt. He got hit there again. Wide uppercut from Aldo. Right hand from Zahabi.
11:27 p.m. ET: Aldo pressed forward to start the first round. He landed a high kick. Aldo almost hit a knee but landed combinations. Zahabi attempted combinations, but Aldo landed several more of his own. Aldo landed body shots. Zahabi landed a few lefts. Aldo responded with lefts to the body. Left hook from Aldo as Zahabi started to pick up the pace.
11:15 p.m. ET: From one legend in Vitor Belfort to another, Jose Aldo returns to action against Aiemann Zahabi.
11:10 p.m. ET: Vitor Belfort was just announced as the latest inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Could we see the winner of the co-main event against Natalia Silva? What about Jasmine Jasudavicius?
Natalia Silva outclassses Alexa Grasso in flyweight shakeup
11:06 p.m. ET: Grasso got pushed back with a front kick to start round three. Additional side kicks landed from Silva. Grasso tried to land a takedown, but Silva wouldn't budge. Combinations connected from Silva. Grasso landed a big strike and continued to press forward. Front kick and another superkick from Silva. Additional kicks landed.10:55 p.m. ET: Both exchanged kicks in round two. High head kick from Silva. Front kick from Silva. Silva landed counter jabs, looking very efficient. Still, Grasso pressed forward. Massive left from Silva. Silva landed a head kick and a few strikes to Grasso's head. They exchanged until the round ended.
10:49 p.m. ET: Grasso with a few jabs while Silva went for leg kicks. Silva pressed forward. Grasso tried to move Silva back with jabs, while the latter landed combinations. Low and high kicks from Silva. Silva slipped and Grasso tried forcing her into the cage. Superkick from Silva. Grasso responded with a few jabs.
10:37 p.m. ET: Alexa Grasso vs. Natalia Silva is up next. A win for Grasso could bring her closer to a fourth fight against Shevchenko.
Benoit Saint-Denis returns to form against Kyle Prepolec
10:30 p.m. ET: Prepolec landed a shot in the second that had Saint-Denis a bit woozy, but the latter quickly recovered. Saint-Denis took some time following an eye poke. Pressing forward, tried landing hard strikes to take Prepolec down. They traded elbows. Saint-Denis took over with elbows. Down on the floor, Saint-Denis forced Prepolec to tap.10:25 p.m. ET: Saint-Denis forced Prepolec into the corner right away and landed a takedown. He held onto Prepolec for several minutes. Saint-Denis started landed elbows to the head and attempted a sleeper hold. Back to their feet, it was only for a second as Saint-Denis put Prepolec back down.
10:16 p.m. ET: Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Kyle Prepolec opens up the main card. A win for BSD would be massive as he attempts to become a rising contender again.
10 p.m. ET: The main card has started.
9:47 p.m. ET: Mike Malott took out Charles Radtke via knockout, and the building exploded with joy.
MIKE MALOTT GETS IT DONE IN ROUND 2 🇨🇦 #UFC315 pic.twitter.com/8o33RXng55
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 11, 2025 9:37 p.m. ET: All imaging was thankfully normal for Silva.
9:28 p.m. ET: Mike Malott vs. Charles Radtke finishes off the prelims.
9:16 p.m. ET: Massive takedown from Jasudavicius in the first round. After a few seconds, she forced Andrade to tap out. A massive win for Jasudavicius, now a dangerous contender at flyweight.
9:08 p.m. ET: In a case of TKO synergy, Randy Orton and John Cena are about to face off. If everything goes according to plan, WWE Backlash should end right before the main card of UFC 315 begins.
9:07 p.m. ET: Jessica Andrade vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius in an important flyweight contest is up next.
9:03 p.m. ET: Modestas Bukauskas defeated Ion Cutelaba following a contested split decision.
8:38 p.m. ET: Modestas Bukauskas vs. Ion Cuțelaba is up next.
8:32 p.m. ET: Stirling and Erslan put on an entertaining affair, slugging it out in the last round until tiring out in the last few seconds. Stirling won via unanimous decision.
THROWING DOWN IN THE FINAL ROUND 👊
[ #UFC315 | Navajo Stirling ] pic.twitter.com/gTJwAKL9Gd— UFC (@ufc) May 11, 2025 8:26 p.m. ET: The UFC provided an update on Bruno Silva. He's alert but was complaining about neck pain. A scan will be done to the body to be cautious.
8:12 p.m. ET: Navajo Stirling vs. Ivan Erslan kicks things off.
8 p.m. ET: The prelims have started.
7:42 p.m. ET: Another fast finish, Barriault got the win against Silva. The crowd were on their feet, during the early prelims, after Barriault landed hard elbows that dropped Silva. It took a long time for Silva to get up and he ended up needing a stretcher.
THESE ELBOWS WERE NASTY 💥
Watch #UFC315 TONIGHT at 10 PM ET on ESPN+ PPV ➡️ https://t.co/pmi88Vp9ht pic.twitter.com/M6KereWfVj— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 10, 2025 7:38 p.m. ET: Canada's Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Bruno Silva is next.
7:37 p.m. ET: Former UFC fighter and WWE star CM Punk cut a promo on Muhammad, a fellow Chicago-born star.
7:33 p.m. ET: Belal Muhammad can tie Canada great Georges St-Pierre for the longest win streak with a win.
7:25 p.m. ET: As Good Ol' Jim Ross loves to say, it was a slobberknocker between Daniel Santos and JeongYeong Lee. Both gave it their all for three rounds. Santos won via unanimous decision.
7:02 p.m. ET: Daniel Santos vs. Lee Jeong-yeong is next.
6:47 p.m. ET: Well, that was fast. Bekzat Almakhan got the win with an uppercut that put Brad Katona on the floor.
A FINISH ONE MINUTE INTO THE FIGHT TO START #UFC315 🤯
WATCH TONIGHT AT 10 PM ET ON ESPN+ PPV ➡️ https://t.co/VvrJOuJnFW pic.twitter.com/udleI2sY5P— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 10, 2025 6:41 p.m. ET: Brad Katona vs. Bekzat Almakhan started the early prelims.
6:30 p.m. ET; The UFC 315 prelims have begun. A lot is on the line in the main event, as the main fights of UFC 317 could be determined based on the winner.
Hello everyone, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of UFC 315!
UFC 315 results
Main Card- Jack Della Maddalena def. Belal Muhammad (c) via unanimous decision for the UFC welterweight title (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
- Valentina Shevchenko (c) def. Manon Fiorot for the UFC flyweight title (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
- Aiemann Zahabi def. Jose Aldo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Natalia Silva def. Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Benoit Saint-Denis def. Kyle Prepolec via arm-triangle choke (2:35 into round two)
- Mike Malott def. Charles Radtke via KO (0:26 into round two)
- Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Jessica Andrade via rear-naked choke (2:40 into round one)
- Modestas Bukauskas def. Ion Cutelaba via split decision (27-30, 30-27, 29-28)
- Navajo Stirling def. Ivan Erslan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Marc-Andre Barriault def. Bruno Silva via KO (1:27 into round one)
- Daniel Santos def. Lee Jeong-yeong (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Bekzat Almakhan def. Brad Katona via KO (1:04 into round one)