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UFC returns to Canada with two big title fights on May 10 inside Montreal’s Bell Centre for UFC 315 — though one matchup is far more surprising than the other.
UFC CEO Dana White announced Wednesday that the welterweight championship will cap off the festivities as champion Belal Muhammad makes his first defense against Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena. Top-ranked contender Shavkat Rakhmonov was originally in line to challenge for Muhammad’s title after his unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry in December at UFC 310, however “The Nomad” is still recovering from an injury, leading to Della Maddalena’s opportunity.
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Della Maddalena has won 17 straight bouts, including all seven of his UFC appearances.
Following the announcement, Rakhmonov wrote on social media that he expects to face the winner of Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena later this year.
Big thanks to the UFC for offering me the shot at the belt first. Unfortunately, due to injury, I won’t be ready for May. I’ll be facing the winner later this year! 👊🏼
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) February 20, 2025
UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is also set to return in UFC 315’s co-main event, as she’s tasked with France’s Manon Fiorot.
Shevchenko reclaimed the belt in her trilogy bout with Alexa Grasso at UFC 306 this past September. The matchup officially kicks off the second championship reign of Shevchenko’s career, while Fiorot has been perfect in her 13-fight run since her losing her MMA debut against Leah McCourt in June 2018.
Wednesday’s announcement also shakes up UFC London on March 22, as Della Maddalena was originally booked opposite the former welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the main event. Instead, Sean Brady now heads overseas to fill the void left by Della Maddalena against Edwards. That fight will be Edwards’ first since his unanimous decision title loss to Muhammad at UFC 304 in July 2024.
UFC 315’s updated fight card can be seen below.
• Welterweight championship: (C) Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena
• Women’s flyweight championship: (C) Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot
• Bantamweight: Brad Katona vs. Bekzat Almakhan
• Bantamweight: Hailey Cowan vs. Nora Cornolle
• Flyweight: Alexa Grasso vs. Natália Silva
• Middleweight: Marc-André Barriault vs. Bruno Silva