The UFC 315 main event delivered a thrilling five-round war between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. In his first title defense, Muhammad lost the belt to JDM. Despite the defeat, the former welterweight champion earned widespread praise for his performance. Among those applauding him was UFC veteran Chael Sonnen, who commended Muhammad for his bold actions following the fight.
“Remember the Name” Belal Muhammad is already eyeing his next challenge, calling out Shavkat Rakhmonov once again. This isn’t the first time the former champion has targeted Rakhmonov — even during his title reign, Muhammad was willing to defend against him. Meanwhile, UFC veteran Chael Sonnen, who considers Muhammad one of the toughest fighters in the sport, spoke to The Schmo and praised his mindset:
“He’s set an example for everybody. All Belal has ever done is fight the hardest guys, ask for opportunities, and keep his mouth shut when it doesn’t go his way. The best thing he’s done is he called for his next fight. He did the exact same thing in a loss that he would have done in a win—all the way to the opponent.”
Chael Sonnen shows support for Belal Muhammad: "He’s set an example for everybody." 💪
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 28, 2025
"All Belal has ever done is fight the hardest guys, ask for opportunities, and keep his mouth shut when it doesn’t go his way. The best thing he’s done is he called for his next fight. He did… pic.twitter.com/tfAHjFCLpG
Sonnen pointed out that Muhammad showed true character by calling out Rakhmonov even after a tough loss, just like he would have if he had won. Sonnen said that’s a great example for everyone, and while Belal may not get credit for it, he absolutely deserves it.
Matt Brown Defends Belal Muhammad And Praises Jack Della Maddalena’s Performance
Jack Della Maddalena walked away with the welterweight title. Muhammad, known for his relentless pace and durability, chose to emphasize his boxing in the title bout rather than lean heavily on his grappling background. Despite attempting nine takedowns, critics were quick to question his approach, arguing that the strategy backfired. However, UFC veteran Matt Brown shared a different view. On The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown said,
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
“Jack’s wrestling looked great. Even when Belal got him down, he stood right back up, I think every time. I’m not remembering any time Belal held him down for any decent length of time. He used some tricky little things, hip toss type things to create some space. He was really good at staying off the cage.”
Brown added that even a different strategy likely wouldn’t have changed the outcome, as Della Maddalena had an answer for everything Muhammad did. Now, fans are eager to see what’s next for the new champion.
Also Read: Sean Strickland Calls Out Belal Muhammad After Brutal Loss, Urging Him To Move Up In Weight
