Jack Della Maddalena is eager for a striking contest against Belal Muhammad, although he anticipates their upcoming championship bout might not unfold in that manner.
The rising Australian welterweight star is set to challenge Muhammad for the title in the headline event of UFC 315, scheduled for May 10 in Montreal, Canada. Della Maddalena boasts an impressive winning streak of 17 fights after suffering defeats in his initial two professional appearances, earning a reputation for delivering spectacular knockouts.
Muhammad is not primarily known for engaging in prolonged stand-up exchanges. Consequently, Della Maddalena suggests that fans could witness a less exciting fight if the champion dictates the style.
“There`s no denying his fighting style is dull,” Della Maddalena stated in an interview with Fox Sports Australia. “He excels at controlling opponents on the ground and securing victories. Credit to him. [Georges St-Pierre] also faced criticism for a perceived boring style, simply because he was superior to his opponents across all areas. He could neutralize strikers and outmaneuver grapplers, so he deserves recognition.”
Della Maddalena continued, “I certainly find his style unexciting, but winning is clearly his top priority, and fair play. However, I believe I have the capability to defeat him. I am undoubtedly the more dangerous fighter, and I am confident I can not only win the world title but do so with a dominant and stylish finish.”
Muhammad captured the welterweight championship at UFC 304 this past July by employing a dominant grappling strategy to secure a decision victory over Leon Edwards. While he has demonstrated striking ability in previous fights, Muhammad typically prefers to control his adversaries on the ground rather than exchange strikes at close range.
Della Maddalena hopes Muhammad will consider engaging with him in striking exchanges, at least initially.
“I expect he will test the waters with striking, but then he might conclude that securing a win by any means necessary is the optimal approach,” Della Maddalena speculated. “Given his competitive nature, he’ll likely try striking, but if he gets hurt, I believe he’ll revert to what he considers the most effective and straightforward path to victory.”
Few fighters reach the pinnacle of the sport by being predictable in their approach, so Della Maddalena is not underestimating any facet of Muhammad’s skillset. Nevertheless, he remains confident in his striking advantage.
“I believe he is quick,” Della Maddalena noted. “However, I wouldn`t characterize his striking as particularly dangerous. He is certainly fast, but I don`t perceive his strikes as a major threat. I think the danger of his takedowns actually enhances his striking.”
