You can call it an upset, or maybe it was just the brilliance of Jack Della Maddalena, as he has just dethroned Belal Muhammad from the top of the welterweight division after a dominant performance in the main event of UFC 315. Heading into the bout as the underdog, most veterans and fans had Muhammad exiting the Octagon as the victor, yet the outcome didn’t feel like a humble pie; instead, the Australian striker’s glory was a feel-good moment for everyone to witness.
In the fight, Maddalena displayed his superior striking skills, even bloodying ‘Bully B’s face and giving him a deep cut. After effectively neutralizing Muhammad’s wrestling, the Aussie also secured a clear unanimous decision victory as the judges scored the contest 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47. As he becomes the 170-pound kingpin, the fighter is now on 18 wins in his overall career while being undefeated in the UFC with 9 wins.
The electrifying clash between Maddalena and Muhammad generated various reactions from all corners of the MMA community. The fight proved that Maddalena is the real deal after all. The undefeated welterweight, ‘The Nomad’ Shavkat Rakhmonov, sent his congratulations to the new 170-pound champion, Maddalena, as he gave him a reminder of who the real challenge at welterweight is for the fighter.
Sending his regards to Maddalena on his X, Rakhmonov said: “Congratulations to JDM. It was great performance after long layover and injuries. You know I’m the real challenge at 170. Sooner or later, my time will come.”
Congratulations to JDM. It was great performance after long layover and injuries. You know I’m the real challenge at 170. Sooner or later my time will come
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) May 11, 2025
Indeed, Rakhmonov’s superior skillset and dangerous finishing ability will be a massive challenge in front of the new king on the block. But he will have to wait before the Kazakh can look for a way to make his dreams a reality. In the guidance of ‘The Eagle’, his greatest disciple, the lightweight king who has conquered the 155-pounders, has set his sights on the welterweight throne. And the UFC wants it too.
So, with the entry of Islam Makhachev into the frame, what does this mean for Shavkat Rakhmonov? And what about the blazing 170-pound division?
Islam Makhachev to challenge Jack Della Maddalena next – what it means for the welterweight division
Just as the UFC 315 main event ended, the UFC lightweight champion took to his X profile and told the world, “Time to become a double champion #inshaAllah Let’s go.” Announcing not just any simple entry but a grand entry in the division straight against the new welterweight champion, Islam Makhachev, has cleared his goals for the future of his career. This is the ideal situation for Makhachev, he gets to save his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s friendship with Muhammad and gets his title shot as well.
But what about the contenders already in the division? While Islam has secured his first bout at 170 pounds and the first title defense of Maddalena as champion, the likes of Sean Brady and Rakhmonov, the true best contenders, can only seem to wait. Within this conversation, somehow, through being vocal about it, even the Irishman Ian Machado Garry believes he is a title contender of the same caliber. But they will all have to wait for Islam to get it over with.
Sean Brady, ranked #1 in the division, will do his best to get straight to a title shot, and knowing his determination, he can prove to be a huge challenge for both Islam and Jack in the octagon. His wrestling prowess and striking make him a significant threat when backed up against a cage. On the other hand, after getting up from a loss against Rakhmonov, Garry returned with a big win over the Muay Thai legend Carlos Prates and has not stopped asking for a title shot ever since.
However, they all seem to under-estimate Maddalena. He was the underdog in this fight, but he became a fan favorite by the time it was all over. Islam Makhachev is undoubtedly the biggest challenge for the Australian striker, but we cannot say what will happen in adversity. All of Maddalena’s opponents have tried to go for a finish against him, which is when he strikes. But will it be enough to derail Makhachev’s hype? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
The post Shavkat Rakhmonov Gives Jack Della Maddalena a Grim Reminder of ‘Real Challenge’ Awaiting Him After Belal Muhammad Loss at UFC 315 appeared first on EssentiallySports.