Former UFC champion and current analyst Daniel Cormier has some key advice for Jack Della Maddalena as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.
Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is set to challenge reigning welterweight titleholder Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the main event of UFC 315 this Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Breaking down the matchup, Cormier emphasized the importance of composure for the undefeated Australian contender. He believes that staying calm under pressure will be crucial if Della Maddalena hopes to dethrone Muhammad. On the other side, Cormier pointed out that Muhammad’s path to victory should mirror the strategy he used to claim the belt against Leon Edwards at UFC 304—a methodical, high-pressure approach that neutralized his opponent’s strengths.
"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 while previewing the matchup on his YouTube channel. "He's got to have a lot of pressure, he's got to secure takedowns, and he's got to keep Jack guessing, because if Jack Della Maddalena is able to just stand and strike with him, Belal is going to be out of his element.
“But when he mixes everything together – the wrestling, the takedowns, the striking – he can fight anyone, and he really can overwhelm you. That is why he knocked out Sean Brady, and that is why he truly outclassed Leon 'Rocky' Edwards. So Belal Muhammad has to be that full mixed martial artist, and the pressure has got to be, it’s got to be very present."
Cormier expressed concern about Della Maddalena’s takedown defense, pointing to past performances where he was repeatedly brought to the mat.
"For Della Maddalena, he's got to defend takedowns," Cormier said. "And here's the deal: There was a fight that Jack Della fought in the Apex against (Bassil Hafez in his UFC debut in 2023). ... The kid was taking him down, almost beat him on short notice, (because of) takedowns. It can't look like that. The fight cannot look like that for Jack Della Maddalena ... he was losing.
"He had to have a very good third round to win that fight because Hafez successfully took him down over and over again. That can't happen. If that starts to happen against the fighter at the level of Belal Muhammad, he's not getting the job done. He has got to stay upright, he's got to move on the outside and he's got to pick at Belal Muhammad. He can't get excited. Excitement in this fight for Della Maddalena will lead to problems. He's got to make sure he fights at his pace, his range and really control the tempo of this fight."
