Belal Muhammad`s initial title defense was scheduled for five months ago. Who could have predicted that its postponement would complicate matters across three different divisions?
At UFC 310, Muhammad was set to defend the welterweight championship against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, a foot infection forced Muhammad out, leading to significant shifts. Multiple legitimate contenders have emerged at 170 pounds, including Muhammad`s UFC 315 opponent, Jack Della Maddalena. Furthermore, there`s considerable buzz surrounding Muhammad`s friend, the lightweight king, Islam Makhachev.
Should Muhammad lose this Saturday, it might clear a path for Makhachev to move up to 170 pounds to challenge Della Maddalena. But if that scenario unfolds, what becomes of Ilia Topuria, who recently vacated the featherweight title with the expectation of competing for a belt at 155 pounds? Conversely, if Muhammad wins, does that automatically make Makhachev vs. Topuria the next logical fight (especially given that UFC 317 still needs a main event), or does Topuria still need to overcome a top lightweight contender to earn his opportunity?
While not the most hyped card of the year, UFC 315 presents intriguing possibilities. MMA Fighting writers Alexander K. Lee, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew discussed the potential storylines emerging from the UFC`s return to Montreal, which could also see flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko position herself for a superfight with Zhang Weili.
Lee: It`s no secret that I advocate for chaos, and that means Jack Della Maddalena must win.
With due respect to “JDM,” this wasn`t even supposed to be his shot. He certainly has the credentials, but Shavkat Rakhmonov was clearly the top choice for some time, and were it not for injuries keeping him sidelined, he would be the one getting the opportunity to potentially turn the division upside down.
As things stand, our hopes for a major shake-up rest on Della Maddalena`s shoulders. I want to see him initiate that first domino fall, allowing Islam Makhachev to move up, Ilia Topuria to fight someone else for a vacant lightweight title, and Makhachev to eventually drop back down to lightweight to finally settle the rivalry with Topuria.
Heck: Both potential outcomes are interesting, but I predict Muhammad retains the title.
Certainly, I`d be incredibly intrigued by Islam Makhachev moving up to welterweight to attempt to win a second belt – and hoping he`d vacate the lightweight title – but Muhammad is significantly underrated. I`m curious to see how his title reign might unfold if he defeats JDM, then faces Rakhmonov, then Ian Machado Garry, and considers all the other possibilities depending on the next couple of months.
Also, there are still MANY compelling lightweight title fights for Makhachev, and I`m still holding out hope for Arman Tsarukyan eventually getting his shot.
Meshew: The “best” outcome for the UFC has practically zero chance of happening, but since that`s what you asked for, here it is: Belal Muhammad defeats Jack Della Maddalena, grabs the mic, and immediately vacates his title to move up to 185 pounds.
Muhammad is undeniably a great fighter, but we don`t have to pretend he`s a champion the UFC is desperate to have. His fights tend not to be the most exciting, and despite his efforts to be captivating on the mic, it doesn`t quite land. Having Muhammad as champion is something the UFC can tolerate but will never be thrilled about.
So, if he willingly relinquishes the belt, that`s obviously good news for the UFC. They could then put Islam Makhachev in a welterweight title fight, but instead of against JDM, it would be against Shavkat Rakhmonov. That`s about as good a fight as the promotion could possibly book.
And look, I know Dricus du Plessis says he`s fighting Khamzat Chimaev later this year, but you never know. Muhammad has wanted to fight Chimaev for ages. If the UFC wanted to attach an interim title to that fight and schedule it for International Fight Week, I suspect people would warm up to the idea.
Meshew: There`s a strong case for Natalia Silva if she beats Alexa Grasso, but I just don`t see that happening. Silva doesn`t have the necessary momentum yet, and a sneaky line is building up in the flyweight division. My prediction is the next flyweight title challenger will be the winner of the Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber fight at the end of this month. For one thing, it`s a main event, which is usually a better indicator of being in the title picture. Also, they are two bigger names than Silva currently has.
Blanchfield was once hyped as the next big thing, and she`s still only 25. And Barber hyped herself as the next big thing and has finally turned the corner into being a genuinely good fighter. I believe the UFC will favor the name recognition and hype of either woman compared to the hardcore fan favorite that Silva is.
Lee: Alexa Grasso tetralogy! I`m kidding, I`m kidding.
Similar to my stance on JDM, I want to see movement in these divisions. That means Natalia Silva putting on a spectacular performance against the former champion and solidifying her spot as the No. 1 contender. Silva has a legitimate chance not only to be a fresh face for Shevchenko to fight but she might also possess the skills to defeat her—or at least catch Shevchenko in a decline while Silva approaches her prime.
Beyond that, I still see plenty of compelling opponents for Shevchenko – especially if Jasmine Jasudavicius defeats Jessica Andrade on Saturday – and I`m always in favor of champions reigning in their own divisions rather than pursuing (or welcoming) fighters from other weight classes.
Heck: It *should* be “Natty Ice” with a win over Alexa Grasso, but regardless of the outcome, Zhang Weili will be next because time is running out to put that fight together.
The women`s divisions in the UFC are competitive, but they desperately need a spark. Booking a fight between Shevchenko and Weili would absolutely provide one. Silva would likely have to wait for her chance at the belt, but if she beats Grasso – and I believe she will – either subsequent fight would be quite significant for her.
Heck: I already mentioned her in the previous question, it`s “Natty Ice”.
Silva is incredibly entertaining when she competes, plus she has a contagious personality that could truly win over the fanbase. If she defeats Grasso, it won`t be a boring fight, and she`ll cut a post-fight promo that will get people excited about her. Easy pick for me.
Meshew: I am so disappointed. The answer was *obviously* Benoit Saint Denis and, my friend, Joel Alvarez, but now it seems that fight is off. If Reiner de Ridder hadn`t just thoroughly defeated Bo Nickal, sadness would be prevalent in the Meshew household right now. But with Saint Denis and Alvarez no longer an option, I will default to another very characteristic choice: the GOAT, Jose Aldo.
Aldo faces Aiemann Zahabi in what is one of the worst pieces of matchmaking in recent MMA history, but that doesn`t matter. Aldo is one of the top five greatest fighters ever, and every time he steps back into the octagon, he only reinforces his absurd greatness. Name another MMA fighter who is still beating elite competition a decade past their prime and doing so in a harder weight class? I`ll wait.
Aldo is going to go out there and once again prove his greatness, and when he does, the UFC is going to shock the world. Dana will come to the post-fight press conference and admit that they have mishandled this final chapter of his career with ridiculous and terrible matchups, and also unfairly denied him a bantamweight title shot by giving it to an injured T.J. Dillashaw for some reason.
And so, in acknowledgment of their repeated and blatant errors, and the fact that Aldo gave the current champion Merab Dvalishvili the most challenging fight of his current run, the promotion is pulling (possibly) injured Sean O’Malley from the UFC 316 main event and replacing him with Jose Aldo. Righteousness prevails!
Lee: Jasmine Jasudavicius, this is your moment.
The fighter from St. Catharines is a late bloomer, but she`s made up for lost time with a series of impressive performances, including a dominant win over recent bantamweight title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva. It`s uncertain how much more room there is for the 36-year-old Jasudavicius to grow, but she`s making all the right moves so far, including setting up a bout with former UFC champion and two-division threat Jessica Andrade.
A strong performance on Saturday elevates Jasudavicius from an interesting contender to a legitimate title challenger, something Canada has been needing for a while.
