Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker recently shared his thoughts on the welterweight title fight at UFC 315 between Belal Muhammad and the new champion, Jack Della Maddalena. Whittaker expressed some surprise regarding Muhammad`s strategic approach in the loss.
Muhammad was defeated by Della Maddalena via unanimous decision in the main event. The Australian fighter delivered an impressive performance, effectively defending against most of Muhammad`s takedown attempts and landing significant strikes on the feet. Whittaker was particularly pleased to see Della Maddalena become the third Australian UFC champion, following himself and Alexander Volkanovski.
“Another Australian champion!” Whittaker exclaimed on his YouTube channel. “How great is it to be an Aussie right now? He stayed true to himself and executed everything excellently. I couldn`t be happier. I`m incredibly proud.”
Despite his happiness for Della Maddalena`s victory, Whittaker pondered whether Muhammad showcased his full potential in the fight. Before the bout, Muhammad had publicly stated he wouldn`t attempt a single takedown, aiming instead to display his striking skills, which he referred to as “Canelo hands.” Although he ultimately attempted nine takedowns, Whittaker felt this wasn`t the sustained grappling pressure characteristic of Muhammad`s usual style.
“I anticipated more takedowns,” Whittaker stated. He acknowledged the difficulty of judging from the outside but noted that Muhammad`s successful takedowns later in the fight occurred when they were set up by striking combinations. “From my perspective, in the third or fourth round, when he combined striking with his shot attempts, they were effective every time… Why didn`t we witness more of that earlier?”
Whittaker speculated that Muhammad might have been overly focused on proving his striking ability in the initial rounds, which he considered unwise given Della Maddalena`s proficiency in mid-range boxing. “If that was the case, it`s regrettable. Jack is superb in that boxing range,” he added.
“In my opinion, Belal`s path to contention was built on his ability to blend striking and wrestling – striking, shooting for a takedown, striking, shooting again,” Whittaker explained. “He`s not a submission specialist like Gilbert Burns who poses an immediate threat once on the ground. His game is that consistent punch-shoot mix. And we didn`t witness that.”
However, Whittaker also conceded that Della Maddalena`s defense played a significant role. “Alternatively, Jack might have done an excellent job deterring Belal from attempting takedowns and maintaining distance,” he suggested. Whittaker observed that Della Maddalena controlled the center of the octagon effectively in the early rounds, preventing Muhammad from pinning him against the fence. He questioned whether the lack of wrestling was due to JDM`s strong defense or Muhammad`s strategic choice to prioritize striking.
Looking ahead, Whittaker considered Della Maddalena`s potential superfight against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. While curious about the matchup, Whittaker warned that Makhachev`s skillset, particularly his wrestling and ground control, is significantly more advanced than Muhammad`s.
“I`m very intrigued,” Whittaker said. “I believe Islam Makhachev performs everything Belal does, but at a much higher level. He`s superior in every aspect.” He acknowledged that striking could be a factor, pointing out that Alexander Volkanovski landed effective shots against Makhachev. “If Volk could land punches and hurt Makhachev, Jack certainly can too, especially given he likes fighting at close range. However, that close range also makes him more vulnerable to takedowns.” Whittaker reiterated that Makhachev`s takedown game and ability to capitalize on ground positions are far superior to Muhammad`s.
“What does that ultimately mean? I`m not sure,” Whittaker concluded humorously.
