UFC 315 has concluded, bringing significant shifts, particularly in the welterweight division. On Saturday in Montreal, Jack Della Maddalena secured an upset victory, winning a unanimous decision against Belal Muhammad to claim the top position at 170 pounds. This triumph potentially sets the stage for a major superfight against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, which could, in turn, facilitate a lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria.
Additionally, in the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko defended her flyweight title successfully, earning a unanimous decision win over Manon Fiorot. This victory possibly paves the way for her own superfight encounter with strawweight champion Zhang Weili.
With plenty of notable events stemming from the latest pay-per-view card, MMA Fighting`s panel of experts convened once more to discuss the key topics following UFC 315.
Reflections on UFC 315`s Overall Quality
Heck: The event, which seemed underwhelming on paper, significantly exceeded expectations. The main event, in particular, delivered absolute chaos and potentially set up exciting future scenarios.
Lee: With respect to my acquaintance Big Donn Davis, this event exemplified what a top-tier professional fighting league looks like. It featured excellent fighters, high stakes, and numerous bouts that resonated with the local crowd.
Meshew: While not the best card ever, it was better than many initially conceded and generated a wealth of intriguing possibilities for the future.
Should Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev Be the Next Fight?
Lee: While it might seem like a dull question, the fight itself promises anything but, especially after Della Maddalena`s impressive showing. Comparing Makhachev and Muhammad isn`t a perfect analogy, but as Saturday`s main event unfolded and Della Maddalena`s victory became apparent, it raised questions about how the Australian`s precise striking and surprisingly effective takedown defense would fare against potentially the best fighter in the world (not referring to Eddie Hall, though that would be a fun spectacle). I`m definitely intrigued. I was initially focused on Makhachev vs. Topuria, but if this is the direction things are heading, few should complain. It either adds another significant win to Makhachev`s already formidable legacy or introduces a new superstar in Della Maddalena if he pulls off another major upset.
Heck: Should it happen? Yes. Am I rushing to the betting window to place a heavy bet? Not yet, and there`s one crucial reason: it wasn`t announced after the main event. I know people will point out Dana White wasn`t at the press conference, but as we`re well aware, Dana White doesn`t require a live microphone to announce news. He could have easily announced JDM vs. Islam for the welterweight title and Topuria vs. Oliveira for an interim lightweight belt via social media on his flight back to Vegas. The absence of such an announcement suggests Makhachev vs. Topuria is likely still the UFC`s preferred choice, which, realistically (apologies to Tom Aspinall), is the biggest potential fight for International Fight Week with limited preparation time. My gut feeling is 60-40 in favor of JDM-Islam, but the overall indicators aren`t strong enough to be highly confident.
Meshew: One hundred percent, this is what`s next. I agree with Mike that Dana`s statements aren`t set in stone, but consider this: if you`re Islam, why would you accept any other fight? You are the top pound-for-pound fighter globally, the new champion is calling for the fight, other contenders are agreeable, and Dana *did* mention it. What possible justification exists for him to take a different opponent? If the UFC were against booking Islam vs. JDM next, Dana would have dismissed the idea before UFC 315, focusing entirely on Islam vs. Ilia. But they didn`t, and now the consensus seems to be that this is the next logical step. Why would they oppose it? Is Ilia vs. Topuria significantly more appealing? Is it worth potentially straining their relationship with the top pound-for-pound fighter? Obviously not. And we know the UFC isn`t going to simply pay extra to force a fight, otherwise, a Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall announcement wouldn`t still be a theoretical possibility. This fight is happening next; prepare for it. Regarding whether it *should* happen, honestly, probably not. This presents a favorable opportunity for Islam, who lacks a clear next contender at lightweight (Arman is a possibility, but that`s complex), but the welterweight division is currently very deep, and it would be better if Islam didn`t challenge for the title now. But what should happen isn`t always what does; this fight is coming.
How Excited Are You About Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili?
Heck: Extremely, because the women`s divisions are in desperate need of a major event. It`s unfortunate for “Natty Ice” (Natalia Silva), who absolutely deserves a title shot if Zhang isn`t available for the desired date. However, this potential superfight feels like a “now or never” moment. Zhang has stated her intention to move up to 125 pounds. Let`s make this fight happen soon, allowing the rising solid contenders to compete for future title opportunities throughout 2025.
Lee: Quite excited! Though perhaps not as excited as I am for Natalia Silva`s opportunity. One of my key takeaways from Saturday`s flyweight action (besides Jasmine Jasudavicius being incredibly resilient) is that Silva possesses the capability to defeat Shevchenko. Her athletic striking style is exceptionally difficult to counter, and she forces opponents to expend considerable energy to secure takedowns. She also has significant charisma both inside and outside the cage. If Shevchenko is to eventually pass the torch to a 125-pounder, Silva is the prime candidate. Furthermore, I still hope to see Zhang face Virna Jandiroba, a highly worthy challenger with a compelling stylistic matchup. You should never take chances with superfights, and it would be a shame if Shevchenko and Zhang never crossed paths, but in my view, the timing isn`t quite perfect yet.
Meshew: Very enthusiastic. Valentina Shevchenko is, at minimum, the third-greatest female fighter of all time and is still near the peak of her abilities. Weili is, at minimum, the fourth-greatest female fighter of all time and is also near her peak. Shevchenko has already competed twice against the GOAT, Amanda Nunes, and can now add another massive fight against Zhang. For Zhang, a victory over Shevchenko would ignite discussions about whether she ranks higher than fourth historically. Aside from a potential return of Amanda Nunes to face Kayla Harrison, this is the most significant fight that can be made in women`s MMA. Let`s see it happen.
How Will You Remember Jose Aldo?
Heck: As the greatest featherweight of all time, but also as a man who seemed to regret his decision to re-sign with the UFC. After suffering a tough loss to Merab Dvalishvili (which was a poorly judged piece of matchmaking), Aldo announced his retirement from MMA, intending to pursue boxing and earn significant money. He had three boxing matches in 2023 but still had one fight remaining on his UFC contract before being completely free. The UFC booked him perfectly against Jonathan Martinez in Rio, intended as his final appearance for the promotion. The only complication? Aldo experienced a wave of UFC nostalgia and decided to return. Let me preface this by saying it was challenging to watch Aldo compete against opponents like Mario Bautista and Aiemann Zahabi (although the latter was a good fight), but it wasn`t entirely the UFC`s responsibility. They didn`t anticipate his return, so they booked the available fights, knowing Aldo wouldn`t complain or refuse. Halfway through the third round on Saturday, Aldo appeared contemplative, perhaps thinking, “I could have had multiple boxing fights on Jake Paul`s undercards and made a fortune.” Hearing his reflections on MMA after the controversial loss, and throughout fight week, was poignant. A salute to The King of Rio.
Lee: In his prime, he was as technically proficient a mixed martial artist as you could ever witness. Aldo is one of the fighters who instilled my passion for this wild sport. When I recall legendary champions, his performances are consistently among the first that come to mind. Being a fan of Aldo during the WEC era felt like being in on a secret that you knew you`d eventually get to share when he joined the UFC roster. You could gauge someone`s knowledge if they mentioned Aldo, and their face would light up just like yours. And he certainly delivered when he finally entered the octagon (well, with the exception of that one occasion WE ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT MENTION AGAIN). I`ll also remember him for a truly eccentric biopic that includes an incredibly unnecessary plot twist I can only assume is entirely accurate and true to life.
Meshew: As the undeniably greatest featherweight of all time, one of the top five fighters to ever step into competition (I place him in the top three), the most exceptional defensive fighter ever, one of the most critically important figures in the history of the sport, and an athlete with a uniquely brilliant career that held profound significance for me. I could easily write a book detailing Aldo`s greatness and impact, and I have already devoted considerable digital space to defending his legacy. But let me simply state that this final phase of his career is arguably his most impressive accomplishment. Aldo is a full decade past his peak fighting years and is still defeating (he did defeat Aiemann Zahabi) Top 15 opponents in a weight class heavier than where he began. This level of sustained success is virtually unprecedented. However, I suspect we might not have seen the very last of him. Aldo`s post-fight statements about retirement were not definitive, using phrases like “this may have been my last time in the Octagon,” rather than offering a firm confirmation. I believe that after some time, Aldo will decide he wants one more opportunity and a proper, celebrated retirement. The obvious fight for that scenario is: Aldo vs. Patricio Pitbull at featherweight in Rio. A final, glorious farewell for a true legend of the sport.
Meshew: Jose Aldo once delivered a soccer kick to an opponent. Enough said.
Who Was Your Standout Performer Outside the Main/Co-Main Events?
Lee: As the resident Canadian, I must acknowledge Mike Malott, naturally. A minor acknowledgment is also due to his opponent Charles Radtke for perfectly embodying the ignorant and overly patriotic intruder, which significantly increased the intrigue surrounding their preliminary headliner. Radtke came across as genuinely abrasive without crossing any truly objectionable lines (in my opinion). By the time they made their walk to the octagon, the crowd was eagerly anticipating a finish, albeit in a politely Canadian manner. The outcome was perfectly scripted: Malott overwhelmed Radtke in the second round and then delivered a strong, unifying post-fight message for good measure. Malott has been positioned as a rising Canadian hope, and despite a setback in his previous fight in Canada, he`s clearly back on track.
Heck: As is often my approach in these discussions, I`ll avoid the obvious choice and highlight Jasmine Jasudavicius` dominant performance against Jessica Andrade. Jasudavicius is a unique talent who discovered MMA much later than most but showed natural aptitude from the very beginning. Having interviewed her when she was an amateur fighter, it`s remarkable to see how quickly she has progressed, consistently surpassing the initial expectations people had for her. She completely overpowered a former champion and appeared unfazed. I would love to see her challenge Grasso or Fiorot next.
