At UFC 315, Belal Muhammad is set to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon, and fans are eager to see if he can deliver another dominant wrestling showcase. This time, he steps in as champion, looking to defend his title for the first time against the dangerous Australian striker, Jack Della Maddalena. With the spotlight on him, Muhammad has the chance to add another impressive chapter to his journey—and perhaps, another gem to his growing legacy. However, his opponent is leaving no stones unturned in his preparation and sharpening his grappling skills under Craig Jones.
Following his recent online feud with reigning champion Belal Muhammad, Craig Jones has joined Jack Della Maddalena’s camp as a grappling coach. And from the looks of it, the partnership is already starting to show promising results. The pair has been working together for the last two years and ‘JDM’ has shown considerable improvements in his ground game.
Maddalena is without a doubt one of the most hard working fighters but this it seems it his coach who is making some sacrifices in order to preapre for the fight. Jones recently took to his Instagram account to share a video of what exactly he is missing out.
In the video, Jones rejected the idea of partying in Bali as he is busy helping prepare JDM for his title fight. Jones in the video said, “Sorry girls. I’m in Canada helping Jack Della win his world title.” He also captioned the post as, “No one has sacrificed more for this world championship than me @ufc 315.” Well, it will be just a matter of time to find out whether all his sacrifices will be worth or not.
Truth be told, the sacrifices are already turning heads. In a recent Instagram clip shared by both Craig Jones and The Mac Life, fans watched in awe as Jack Della Maddalena effortlessly launched the ADCC champion to the canvas with a smooth judo throw.
He then seamlessly transitioned into a picture-perfect D’Arce choke for the finish. Jones, never one to shy away from some self-deprecating humor, chimed in with comments like “Time to retire” and “I wish this was a joke. I’m the joke,” tipping his hat to JDM’s rapidly evolving submission skills. However, ‘JDM’ knows he is going up against a man who is without a doubt one of the best wrestlers in the division and has backed his performances. Former UFC champion Robbie Lawler is also looking forward to the clash but analyzed why the champion is so good on the ground.
Robbie Lawler feels Belal Muhammad will be a tough ask for Jack Della Maddalena
Across 18 UFC appearances, Belal Muhammad has asserted his dominance in an incredible 15 bouts. His already formidable wrestling game reached new heights after an intensive training stint in Dagestan under the guidance of coach Khabib Nurmagomedov. As he heads into this title defense, Belal ‘Remember The Name’ Muhammad is riding a wave of confidence unlike anything we’ve seen before.
His belief in his skills is at an all-time high—and rightfully so. Just look back at his dominant performances against Leon Edwards and Sean Brady, both of which showcased the relentless pressure, sharp fight IQ, and gritty wrestling that have become his trademark inside the Octagon.
One UFC legend recently sat down with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo on their podcast, Pound4Pound to break down Belal Muhammad’s elite-level wrestling. Lawler said, “I mean obviously, it’s Belal—where it starts with him. I think is he’s fine everywhere, but his wrestling, I mean he’s gets in on guys, hips easy, lifts out, works guys and that’s kind of what he’s what he’s doing it’s it’s simple things, but he’s just doing it at a freaking high level and guys aren’t ready for it.”
We all know ‘JDM’ is without a doubt one of the best strikers in the division. However, this time he will have to showcase his wrestling skills which he has been improving under the watchful eyes of Craig Jones. Who do you think will win the fight at UFC 315? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post BJJ World Champ Craig Jones Makes Bold Claims on Sacrificed the Most for UFC 315 Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena Showdown appeared first on EssentiallySports.