It's safe to say that Jack Della Maddalena isn't a big fan of his next opponent's fighting style.
Ahead of their clash for the UFC welterweight championship at UFC 315 in Montreal, Canada next month, Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has laid into Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3), calling the welterweight champion's style "boring to watch".
Muhammad has made his name as a pressure wrestler, and this style played a massive part in him winning the 170-pound title when he beat Leon Edwards at UFC 304 last July, and although Della Maddalena can appreciate the effectiveness of Muhammad's approach, he isn't enthused by it.
“It’s no question he’s got a boring fight style,” Della Maddalena said during an interview with Fox Sports Australia this week. “He’s good at holding people down, getting victories, but fair play to him. (Georges St-Pierre) got some flack back in the day for being a boring style, and it’s just because he’s better than people across the board. He can hold down the strikers and outstrike the grapplers, that sort of thing.
“So, we’ve got to give him credit. I definitely think it’s a boring style, but I think winning is obviously his No. 1 goal and fair play to him, but I feel like I can beat him. I’m a more dangerous fighter for sure, and I think I cannot only get the world title, but get the world title off a dominant finish with style points for sure.”
Della Maddalena visibly struggled against the grappling-heavy approach of his previous opponent Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 a year ago, conceding a succession of takedowns before rallying to knock the Brazilian out in the third round. He is aware that he may need to show a similar resolve this time around.
“I got some practice with that against Gilbert Burns,” said the Australian. “And I feel like in the three-round fight, I was able to continuously get back to my feet and cook him. Like a good-old jiu-jitsu match, cook him and then get the finish later in the fight, and I feel like having five rounds I believe will be to my advantage. I believe I will be able to continuously get back to my feet and sting Belal. Having those extra two rounds to damage him, I think it works well for me. I’m going to keep pushing until the final bell.”
