UFC 315 LIVE RESULTS: Jack Della Maddalena BEATS Belal Muhammad to win BLOODY title as Jose Aldo retires after loss
JACK DELLA MADDALENA scored a huge upset win to rip the welterweight title from Belal Muhammad at UFC 315!
The Australian took a decision win in a BLOODY battle in Canada, with the former champion struggling in the opening rounds and leaving it too late to mount a comeback.
Earlier, Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her title against Manon Fiorot.
UFC legend Jose Aldo also RETIRED after a controversial defeat to Aiemann Zahabi.
Follow ALL the action from the Bell Centre with our live blog below...
Reactions to Aldo's retirement news
UFC stars took to social media to praise Jose Aldo after his announcement of retirement.
BMF titleholder Max Holloway posted: “Jose Aldo is a legend. Love to one of the greatest.”
UFC lightweight Renato Moicano wrote: "Absolutely legend!!! You had a great career!!! Enjoy your retirement legend !!”
UFC featherweight Dan Ige added: "[Jose Aldo] always a GOAT”
Jack Della Maddalena thoughts on his performance
With the Welterweight belt strapped around his waist, Maddalena spoke to Daniel Cormier about his five-round war.
He said: "Coming in here against someone like Belal, with that sort of pressure, I knew I had to be smart.
"Belal's a tough dude, he's not easy to put away.
"Australia baby, we've got three of these [belts], lets go!"
Dana White no-show at press conference
UFC boss Dana White skipped the post-fight press conference.
Fans have been left concerned and with many questions unanswered as White failed to show up post-match.
One fan wrote: “Just resign at this point. Clearly wants nothing to do with the UFC anymore.”
“He doesn’t give a f— about the UFC anymore, it is very obvious,” another fan reacted.
Madallena's health battle
Madallena has battled back from a potentially career-ending infection to the brink of becoming the new king of the UFC's welterweight division.
His shot at UFC gold came 14 MONTHS after he broke his left arm in his career-best win over former title challenger Gilbert Burns, after which he had surgery.
Ten days after going under the knife, he was forced to have a SECOND surgery as an infection caused the wound to split.
Della Maddalenna spent NINE DAYS hospital on a mixture of IV and oral antibiotics before he was allowed home.
But he wasn't out of the woods just yet, with multiple abscesses popping up in the wound over the next five weeks.
He spoke of the ordeal in an exclusive interview with the Sun Sport.
Valentina's thoughts after her title defence
After her eighth title defense at women's Flyweight, she spoke to Daniel Cormier in the Octagon.
She said: "She Fiorot is a hard opponent, a good striker, everything I was preparing for the fight, I was able to do."
When asked about how long she can stay at the highest level, she explained: "I keep going, numbers are nothing to me, it's about how you feel mentally and physically, this is the most important."
Vitor Belfort inducted into the UFC hall of fame
During the main card, it was announced that UFC icon Vitor Belfort would be inducted into the UFC hall of fame.
He will be added to the pioneer wing of the hall of fame - and rightly so.
The Brazilian legend began his UFC career back in 1997 at UFC 12 and then left the UFC in 2018.
With 25 bouts under the UFC banner, Belfort became the Light-heavyweight champion in 2004 and still holds the record for the most first-round finishes in the promotion’s history, with 13.
Who should Shevchenko fight next?
After yet another dominant victory from The Bullet, all eyes are on for what could be next for the champion.
This marked her eighth title defense, and with much of the division already cleared out, fresh challengers will be up next.
Natalia Silva looks to be next in line after her huge statement by defeating former champion Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision.
Silva is now expected to rise to the top of the rankings next week and could present a compelling new test for the flyweight GOAT.
What's next for Jack Della Maddalena?
Now 8-0 in the UFC, Maddalena has had a rapid rise to the top of the division and is now the undisputed UFC welterweight champion.
With many interesting fights inside the top of the 170lbs weight class on the horizon, there is much speculation that it will be Islam Makhachev who'll be next in line for a title shot.
The lightweight champion believes it is now his time to move up a division, after successfully defending his belt four times.
And now with his training partner out the way in Belal Muhammed, Makhachev will look to become a double weight world champion in two of the UFC's most stacked divisions.
Aldo announces retirement
After a difficult loss for the king of Rio, Jose Aldo announces his retirement.
The UFC legend was seen taking off his gloves in the octagon, and when speaking to Daniel Cormier after the fight, he reflected on his career.
He said: "Thank you to Dana, for everybody at the UFC, for everything you've given me.
"I don't think i have it in me anymore, everything was very tough, not just the weight cut.
"I don't want to go into war all the time, I think this is the last time you'll see me."
UFC 315 Full card results
We saw a great card in Montreal, including 5 finishes and fights that resulted in huge title implications.
Here are the results from the full card below
Main card
- Jack Della Maddalena beat Belal Muhammed by unanimous decision.
- Valentina Shevchenko defeated Manon Fiorot by unanimous decision.
- Aiemann Zahabi beat Jose Aldo by unanimous decision.
- Natalie Silva won by unanimous decision against Alexa Grasso.
- Benoit Saint-Denis submitted Kyle Prepolec in the second round.
Prelims
- Mike Malott TKO'd Charles Radtke in round two.
- Jasmine Jasudavicius submmited Jessica Andrade in round one.
- Modestas Bukauskas beat Ion Cutelaba by split decision.
- Navajo Stirling beat Ivan Erslan by unanimous decision
Early Prelims
- Marc-Andre Barriault defeats Bruno Silva by KO in round one.
- Daniel Santos beat Lee Jeong Yeong by unanimous decision.
- Bekzat Almakhan beat Brad Katona by KO in round one.
Australian gold
With Maddalena now crowned welterweight champion, Australia boasts three UFC world champions.
He joins former champion Robert Whittaker and reigning featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski as just the third Aussie to claim UFC gold.
Jack Della Maddalena went to war in the main event, delivering a thrilling performance that showed why he deserves to be a world champion.
And new!
Jack Della Maddalena has become the UFC welterweight champion!
An excellent performance from the challenger sees him claim UFC gold.
The Judges score the contest 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 all in favour of the Australian.
What a fight that was!
Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena – Round 5
The Champion is continuing the pressure from that last round.
He's landed some huge shots on Maddalena, who also has a tough chin of his own.
Maddalena landed a huge knee that cut the champ, but it's Muhammad who's looked the best in this final round.
Huge elbows landed by both men in the clinch, who are covered in each other's blood.
Both men have shown warrior spirit here, a brilliant showing of heart.
What an absolute war!
We now wait for the judges scorecards for a decision.
Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena – Round 4
The champion's best round so far.
Belal's pressure was very evident in this fourth round.
It's Muhammad's previous experience proving well for him as we enter deep waters.
Belal has managed to land significant strikes that have stopped the Australians' momentum.
Maddalena has landed some big shots of his own, but the champ's chin is proving strong.
A very close fight as we enter the fifth and final round.
Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena – Round 3
A nice boxing combination from the challenger there.
He goes body-head-body and lands all three punches cleanly on Muhammad.
The Australian is starting to flow in the octagon here, his head movement has been really good so far.
The champion is struggling to mix in the grappling in this third round, but he is landing some shots that are still keeping this competitive.
We now enter the championship rounds.
Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena – Round 2
Another close and competitive round by both men.
Jack's slick boxing is seriously impressive, he is able to land some nice punches on the champion.
Muhammed isn't allowing the challenger to control the center however.
It's almost like they both know whoever is walking backwards is likely losing the fight.
Muhammed went for a late takedown attempt, but Maddalena's defence is proving strong.
A very competitive fight so far.
Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena - Round 1
A close round to begin the main event!
Maddalena looks smooth on the feet, throwing a nice variation of kicks that are keeping the champion at bay.
Muhammed is trying to close the gap and get that takedown, but the Australian does an excellent job of circling away.
With the champion having the threat of the takedown, his strikes improve massively.
With Maddalena so focused at defending he often forgets to protect his face, allowing the champ to land some strikes.
It's time!
Its Main event time folks!
Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena will throw down for the Welterweight title.
The Champion Muhammad has been unstoppable in recent years and now faces the Australian in his first defence.
Although the Maddalena is ranked at No. 5 in the division, he has put together an impressive body of work of his own.
Wins against Kevin Holland and Gilbert Burns have proved that Maddalena deserves to be in the title picture.
The UFC 315 main event is coming up next!
And Still!
Valentina Shevchenko wins by unanimous decision.
All three judges score the contest 48-47 in favour of The Bullet.
A well-deserved victory where she faced a tough opponent who refused to go away.
Another title defense added to her collection, cementing her as the Women's Flyweight GOAT.
Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot – Round 5
The challenger is trying her best to make the fight as dirty as possible.
Shevchenko does a good job of circling the octagon and lands a nice spinning back fist unexpectedly.
Fiorot's leaving this fight with lots of control time, that grappling has worked well for her landing some nice elbows in the pocket.
Not much to split these two women as we go to the judges scorecards for a decision.
Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot – Round 4
As we enter the championship rounds Shevchenko needed to be more aggressive in her strikes.
And she does that brilliantly, landing a spinning head kick after countering Fiorot's head kick perfectly.
Fiorot's nose appears to be bloody again, but that doesn't stop her from coming forward trying to close the distance.
A late flurry from Shevchenko as she drops Fiorot with a counter straight right!
But there's not enough time to close the show.
One final round to ultimately decide who goes home with the belt.
Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot – Round 3
During the break between rounds, we see a replay of Fiorot almost landing a huge illegal knee, Referee Mark Goddard does well to warn her to begin the third round.
The Bullet attempts a takedown but it's well defended by the challenger.
Both women are seemingly finding more success on each other during the grappling exchanges.
Fiorot is starting to control the fight more, understanding when to be aggressive while Shevchenko tries to counter.
With not many strikes landing significantly, it'll be interesting to see how these next championship rounds go.
Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot – Round 2
The champion uses her counter-striking perfectly, Fiorot isn't used to this style of fighting and is struggling to enter the pocket.
A nice spinning push kick lands by Shevchenko, but the contender shrugs it off.
Fiorot goes to grappling for more success - and she finds it.
Some excellent level changing by the challenger, who ends the second round well.
Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot - Round 1
Huge right hand lands on Fiorot!
The champion lands flush on the challenger whose nose explodes into blood.
It began with cagey start from both women, each carefully trying to gauge distance as they exchange strikes.
Shevchenko manages to get a takedown at the end of the round, securing her a 10-9 lead to begin.
It's Co-main event time
Valentina Shevchenko will defend her Flyweight belt as she goes up against Manon Fiorot.
‘The Bullet’ dominated last September at UFC Sphere against Grasso, and now turns her attention to Manon Fiorot - a surging contender ranked number 2 in the Flyweight division.
Fiorot's last two fights have been her most impressive, with dominant victories over both Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield.
There’s no doubt she’s earned her shot at UFC gold.
This is the highest level of Women’s MMA you will see, and fans are in for a great contest.
