The UFC returns this weekend with UFC 315, a highly anticipated card headlined by a welterweight title fight that could ripple across two divisions. With lightweight champion Islam Makhachev eyeing a potential move up in weight, welterweight king Belal Muhammad has made it clear: he’s not going anywhere.
Belal Muhammad Shuts Down Islam Makhachev’s Double-Champ Hopes
In a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian Podcast, Muhammad opened up about his thoughts on a potential clash with his longtime teammate and friend, Islam Makhachev. While the lightweight champion has shown interest in moving up to challenge for a second belt, Muhammad revealed that his own success may have complicated those plans.
“He said, ‘Oh man, you ruined my plans.’ It’s one of those things like, ‘Oh, you won the belt, you ruined my plans, ” Muhammad recalled. The comment was in reference to Muhammad’s victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304, a win that crowned him the welterweight champion and effectively blocked a clear path for Makhachev to jump divisions.
With UFC 315 fast approaching, Muhammad is set to defend his belt for the first time against the surging Australian contender, Jack Della Maddalena. Despite the stakes, Muhammad remains firm in his stance:
“I’ll tell him, like, get your fight signed because I’m not leaving Montreal without the belt. I’m still going to be the champ, so start your camp right now — whoever you have in line, whoever you have in the story, you’re good.”
BELAL MUHAMMAD SUGGESTS THAT ISLAM MAKHACHEV SIGN A FIGHT AND START CAMP 💪 AS HE VOWS NOT TO LEAVE CANADA 🇨🇦 WITHOUT THE BELT 🏆😲
"He said, 'Oh man, you ruined my plans.' It’s one of those things like, 'Oh, you won the belt, you ruined my plans.' There are people now, they're… pic.twitter.com/7P23zr5ds4
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 5, 2025
Makhachev, meanwhile, is stuck in limbo. With Muhammad unwilling to vacate or budge from the division, and with both fighters hesitant to face each other due to their long-standing bond, the lightweight king may be forced to look elsewhere. Ilia Topuria, who recently vacated his featherweight belt to pursue lightweight gold, has also been floated as a potential opponent. As the outcome of UFC 315 unfolds, Makhachev’s future could hinge on it.
Daniel Cormier Breaks Down Belal Muhammad’s Path to Victory at UFC 315
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier recently gave his take on the upcoming welterweight title bout, emphasizing what Muhammad must do to retain his crown against the heavy-handed Jack Della Maddalena. The former double champion pointed to Muhammad’s breakthrough performance against Leon Edwards as the blueprint.
“If Belal Muhammad is going to be successful in his first title defense, he has to look and fight in the same way that he fought Leon Edwards,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “He’s got to have a lot of pressure, he’s got to secure takedowns and he has got to keep Jack guessing. Because, if Jack Della Maddalena is able to stand and strike with him, Belal is going to be out of his element.”
Cormier stressed the importance of mixing techniques and forcing Della Maddalena out of his comfort zone. While Della Maddalena has built a reputation for sharp, technical striking, Cormier warned that allowing the fight to stay on the feet could be dangerous for Muhammad.
“When he mixes everything together, the wrestling, the takedowns, the striking, he can fight anyone. So Belal Muhammad has to be that full mixed martial artist and the pressure has got to be very present. From the start of the fight, he’s gotta mix the takedowns, and use those takedowns to keep Jack off pace.”
As the division braces for a potential shake-up, all eyes are on UFC 315’s main event. Whether Muhammad retains or Della Maddalena pulls off the upset, the result will have ripple effects across the welterweight and lightweight divisions.