On Saturday night time in Montreal, Jack Della Maddalena defied the chances and beat Belal Muhammad to turn out to be the primary UFC champion from Perth, Australia. Now he’s trying to defend the belt in his hometown subsequent.
Della Maddalena was simply too correct together with his putting and too efficient together with his grappling and head motion for Muhammad, who ended up a bloody mess by the tip of their 5 spherical battle (watch the highlights right here). With the judges handing him the win 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, we’ve a brand new welterweight champion … and a possible champion vs. champion battle with light-weight title holder Islam Makhachev to sit up for.
Footage launched by UFC social media accounts captured the second Della Maddalena prompted UFC CEO Dana White over the cellphone to substantiate a Makhachev battle in Australia.
“Makhachev subsequent, proper? In Perth?” he requested.
“We’ll get this found out,” White replied.
There’s lots of shifting components to Makhachev’s subsequent battle. The light-weight champion doesn’t wish to defend his 155 pound strap in opposition to former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. He desires to battle JDM, but in addition doesn’t wish to drop the light-weight belt to maneuver as much as welterweight. That’s an issue for the UFC, who wish to have Topuria compete for a title at UFC 317.
UFC CBO Hunter Campbell was in Dubai and Dagestan this previous week attempting to type issues out. Did he? White no-showed the UFC 315 presser somewhat than reply countless questions on Della Maddalena, Makhachev, and Topuria. So we’ll let his non-answer be its personal reply proper there.
No matter what occurs with Makhachev, Australian followers might not have to attend too lengthy to see their new champion on house turf. Experiences had the promotion planning a Battle Night time for Perth in the summertime, however execs are contemplating upgrading the go to to a full-on pay-per-view now that Della Maddalena is champion.
“I feel it is smart,” Della Maddalena stated on the UFC 315 post-fight press convention of combating Makhachev in Perth. “Clearly, Volk and Islam fought in Perth a pair years in the past and that was a terrific battle. And yeah, individuals suppose Volk — it was a really shut battle. Volk did good. So I feel it is smart. A little bit of a narrative there.”
“Perth blew the roof off the RAC [Arena] and I feel if we might do it with the hometown child defending the belt, it might be even higher.”
We’ll hold you up to date because the items fall into place and the UFC ‘will get this found out.’
