MONTREAL — Australian Jack Della Maddalena outstruck Belal Muhammad to say the UFC welterweight championship by unanimous resolution within the early hours of Sunday, after a climactic final-round scramble left Muhammad bloodied from a knee strike.
Perth-born Della Maddalena, who has a boxing background, thwarted a number of takedown makes an attempt from Muhammad, the superior wrestler, to maintain many of the struggle on the ft as he claimed his 18th skilled win in a row, handing the American his first loss in six years.
“He brings the pressure… I knew I had to be sharp on my feet,” Della Maddalena stated.
“I wanted to take him out of there. I was gunning for a finish but Belal is a tough dude.”
Della virtually caught Muhammad with an early knee up the center however missed, because the American replied with a punch and a head kick. A double jab-body kick mixture from Della Maddalena pissed off Muhammad, who answered with a left hook earlier than the Australian landed highly effective straights.
“You are winning, he doesn’t have a clue what to do right now,” Della Maddalena’s nook instructed him after the third spherical, whereas Muhammad’s coaches implored him to go for the end.
Muhammad led with a flurry of straights and jabs, and tried to cover his takedown try behind an uppercut. However Della Maddalena managed to remain on the ft, whereas Muhammad landed kicks close to the fence.
“Five more minutes to realise all your dreams,” Della Maddalena’s nook instructed him going into the ultimate spherical.
Della Maddalena reduce Muhammad open with a knee however the American, not prepared to surrender, pushed the tempo and landed a hook adopted by a takedown, attempting to complete the Australian with floor strikes.
However Della Maddalena bought up, and unloaded on Muhammad with massive punches to the pinnacle and physique as they each went for a end till the clock ran out, giving the Australian the win (48-47, 48-47, 49-46).
Makhachev subsequent
Della Maddalena, 28, stated he wished to face light-weight champion Islam Makhachev, who had taken the belt from Australian champion Alexander Volkanovski.
“I think it’s a beautiful challenge. He’s the pound-for-pound number one. I want to get him back for Volk,” Della Maddalena stated.
Within the co-main occasion, Kyrgyzstan’s Valentina Shevchenko defended her flyweight belt with a unanimous resolution over Manon Fiorot, who suffered her first loss after 12 straight wins.
Shevchenko’s proper hooks left Fiorot’s nostril bleeding within the first spherical, however the Frenchwoman fought again, pinning Shevchenko to the cage and touchdown knees from the clinch over the following two rounds.
However Shevchenko escaped a physique lock within the fourth spherical and knocked Fiorot down, earlier than touchdown a spinning backfist and a superwoman punch within the fifth and ultimate spherical to make sure a 48-47 victory on all three judges’ scorecards.
