UFC contender Jack Della Maddalena is set to face Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, and he believes he has a clear-cut plan to defeat the champ.
The bout will be a grappler vs. striker showdown, but both fighters are fully aware of each other’s fighting style and are bringing their best. In the days leading up to the fight, Maddalena revealed he has a foolproof plan to snag the belt from Belal. The fighter is well known for his striking power, but he also acknowledges his opponent’s speed and agility on his feet despite being a skilled grappler.
“He’s good at winning,” Della Maddalena said about Muhammad when speaking to MMA Fighting. “So he’ll revert back to just trying to win. Obviously, I don’t underestimate his striking, but I think I can get him on the feet and on the ground. I think I’m a better MMA fighter than him.
“I wouldn’t want to have a boxing match with him because I like MMA. I like the ruleset. I like kicking. Kicking him and elbowing him.”
“I think his striking it’s fast,” Della Maddalena said. “He has a fast, awkward striking style, so it’s effective. Obviously, he’s not a very damaging guy just because he doesn’t put all his weight behind his shots. It seems like he just snaps them out there fast. He can touch you and then get on your hips, so he’s a well-rounded guy.”
While Della Maddalena respects Muhammad’s perseverance in the cage and his stellar grappling, this isn’t his first time dealing with an opponent with a grappling game plan. In his most recent win over Gilbert Burns, he struggled in the early rounds but ended the fight with a devastating third-round knockout.
“I think I can stop the takedown,” Della Maddalena said. “I’m comfortable on my back, and I think sometimes that’s not good for [MMA]; it sometimes works to my detriment. Stopping the takedown is what I need to do. I think that makes the fight easier for me.
“If it hits the ground, I’ve got ways of getting up. I’ll be able to attack him off my back, but stopping the takedown will be the best route to victory. It will save me energy, and I can use that energy to bust him up.”
He agreed that Muhammad will be a tough opponent to beat, as he has defended his belt against a number of contenders. Still, Maddalena believes he has what it takes and will let his fighting do the talking.
“I respect the résumé for sure,” Della Maddalena said. “He has had a very good career. Obviously a hardworking guy, he’s put a lot of wins together, which isn’t easy—especially at this level of fighters he’s fighting. I respect it.
“No bad blood. I’m coming with vicious intentions. That’s the fight game.”
