UFC 315 delivered a seismic shakeup across multiple divisions on Saturday night as the Octagon returned to the Bell Centre for the first time in years. The evening was highlighted by a welterweight changing of the guard, a hard-earned title defense in the women’s flyweight division, and notable performances from rising stars and legendary veterans alike.
Main Event: Jack Della Maddalena Becomes UFC Welterweight Champion
Jack Della Maddalena is officially the king of the welterweights. In a striking-heavy affair, the Perth native unseated Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to claim the 170-pound title and cap off a thrilling night of action in Montreal. From the opening bell, Della Maddalena controlled the pace, utilizing clean boxing and varied angles to punish Muhammad during the early rounds. The former champion tried to turn the tide in the third and fourth frames, pressing forward and finding success in brief grappling exchanges, but he struggled to consistently bring the fight to the mat.
In the fifth, Della Maddalena closed strong, landing clean strikes including a brutal knee followed by a series of punches that had Muhammad bleeding and retreating. Despite a late takedown and some damage from the former champ on the ground, the judges unanimously sided with the challenger.
Della Maddalena’s victory marks his eighth straight UFC win and his 18th consecutive victory overall. He now stands as the third Australian to win UFC gold — joining Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski — and becomes the third Dana White’s Contender Series alum to become a UFC champion, following Jamahal Hill and Sean O’Malley.
This title bout further electrifies an already loaded welterweight division, with a new champion now set to take on the hungry crop of contenders chasing gold.
Co-Main Event: Shevchenko Edges Fiorot in Gritty Title Defense
Valentina Shevchenko added another chapter to her legendary career, successfully defending her women’s flyweight championship with a narrow unanimous decision victory (48-47 x3) over France’s Manon Fiorot.
The longtime champion started fast, peppering Fiorot with sharp counters in Round 1. But Fiorot displayed resilience, adjusting her timing in the second and bringing a measured approach through the middle frames. Round 4 saw Shevchenko swing the momentum back in her favor with a crisp right hook that dropped Fiorot late in the round, helping seal the scorecards in her favor.
Though the final round featured little significant damage, it was enough for Shevchenko to retain her crown. The win reinforces her position atop the 125-pound division and bolsters her case as one of the greatest female fighters in MMA history.
Main Card Highlights
- Benoit Saint Denis def. Kyle Prepolec via submission (R2): The French lightweight overwhelmed late replacement Kyle Prepolec, dominating from the start before securing a slick submission early in the second round. It was a bounce-back performance for Saint Denis and re-establishes his standing as a must-watch talent in the division.
- Natalia Silva def. Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision: Silva scored a massive win over former strawweight champion Alexa Grasso, showing poise and tactical brilliance in a striking-heavy affair. The victory likely propels Silva into title contention in the women’s flyweight division.
- Aiemann Zahabi def. Jose Aldo via unanimous decision: In front of his hometown fans, Zahabi turned in the best performance of his career, outworking former featherweight king Jose Aldo on the feet and the mat. After the loss, Aldo laid down his gloves in the Octagon, signaling what appears to be a second — and perhaps final — retirement for the Brazilian legend.
UFC 315 was a night of change — and legacy. Jack Della Maddalena’s ascension to champion status breathes new life into the welterweight division, while Valentina Shevchenko once again proved her championship mettle. With rising stars like Natalia Silva and Benoit Saint Denis making statements, and a legend in Aldo seemingly bidding farewell, Montreal witnessed a pivotal night in the UFC’s 2025 calendar.
