UFC 315 is now behind us, marking the coronation of a new welterweight champion. The event in Montreal saw Jack Della Maddalena achieve a significant upset, securing a unanimous decision victory over Belal Muhammad to claim the top spot in the 170-pound division. This win has sparked discussions about a potential superfight with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The card also featured Valentina Shevchenko successfully defending her flyweight title against Manon Fiorot, hinting at a possible superfight with strawweight champion Zhang Weili. Following these key outcomes, MMA Fighting contributors analyzed the major talking points from the latest pay-per-view.
Should Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev be next?
Heck: The event, perhaps underrated beforehand, certainly exceeded expectations. The main event, in particular, delivered unexpected drama and potentially significant implications for the future.
Lee: This event showcased top-tier fighters competing for high stakes, providing plenty for the local Canadian fans to engage with.
Meshew: While perhaps not the greatest card ever, it was undoubtedly better than some gave it credit for and has created several fascinating possibilities moving forward.
Lee: A straightforward answer: yes, the fight should happen. And it wouldn`t be boring, especially after the capabilities Della Maddalena displayed. While Makhachev and Muhammad are vastly different fighters, as the main event unfolded, Della Maddalena`s sharp striking and surprisingly effective takedown defense led one to ponder how he might fare against the world`s top pound-for-pound fighter. I was initially focused on Makhachev vs. Topuria, but if a fight with Della Maddalena is the direction we`re heading, it`s hard to complain. It either enhances Makhachev`s already impressive legacy or potentially creates a new superstar in Della Maddalena if he pulls off another major upset.
Heck: Should it happen? Yes. Am I betting heavily on it right now? Not yet, and here`s why: it wasn`t announced immediately after the main event. While Dana White doesn`t need a press conference to make news, he could have easily announced JDM vs. Islam for the welterweight belt and Topuria vs. Oliveira for an interim lightweight title via social media on his way out. The fact that he didn`t suggests Makhachev vs. Topuria might still be the preferred option, especially considering the short timeframe for International Fight Week. My gut leans 60-40 towards JDM-Islam, but the lack of immediate confirmation is telling.
Meshew: It`s absolutely next. While Dana White`s announcements aren`t always definitive, consider this: if you`re Islam, why would you agree to anything else? You`re the top pound-for-pound fighter, the new champion is calling you out, other contenders are open to it, and Dana White even hinted at it. There`s no compelling reason to take a different fight. If the UFC wasn`t considering Islam vs. JDM, Dana would have shut it down before UFC 315 and pushed full steam ahead with Islam vs. Ilia. They didn`t, and now it seems the consensus is this is next. Is Ilia vs. Topuria significantly bigger? Is it worth potentially straining the relationship with the number one pound-for-pound fighter? Of course not. And we know the UFC won`t just pay extra to force a different fight. This is the next fight, get ready for it. As for whether it *should* happen, honestly, probably not. It`s a good opportunity for Islam, who lacks a clear lightweight contender at the moment, but the welterweight division is stacked, and it would be better for that picture if this fight didn`t happen. But “better” isn`t always what occurs, and this fight *is* happening.
How excited are you about a potential Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili superfight?
Heck: Extremely excited, because the women`s divisions urgently need a major spark. While it`s unfortunate for Natalia Silva, who absolutely deserves a title shot if Zhang isn`t available, a fight between Zhang and Shevchenko feels like a “now or never” moment, especially since Zhang has expressed interest in moving up to 125 pounds. Let`s make it happen now, allowing the rising contenders in both divisions to challenge for titles throughout 2025.
Lee: Quite excited! But I`m perhaps even more excited for Natalia Silva to get her opportunity. My key takeaway from the flyweight action at UFC 315 is that Silva absolutely has the tools to beat Shevchenko. Her dynamic striking style is difficult to counter, and she makes opponents work hard for takedowns. She also possesses significant charisma both inside and outside the cage, making her an ideal candidate to potentially carry the torch at 125 pounds. I also still want to see Zhang fight Virna Jandiroba, who is a worthy challenger and a compelling stylistic challenge. You shouldn`t gamble when it comes to superfights, and it would be a shame if we never saw Shevchenko and Zhang compete, but for me, the timing isn`t perfectly ideal just yet.
Meshew: Very pumped. Valentina Shevchenko is, at minimum, the third-greatest female fighter ever, and she`s still performing near her peak. Zhang Weili is, at minimum, the fourth-greatest female fighter ever, and also at her peak. Shevchenko has already had two bouts against the GOAT, Amanda Nunes, and can now add another massive fight against Zhang. For Zhang, a win over Shevchenko elevates the conversation about her all-time ranking. Outside of Amanda Nunes potentially returning to fight Kayla Harrison, this is the biggest possible fight in women`s MMA. Let`s make it happen.
How should we remember Jose Aldo based on his return?
Heck: As the greatest featherweight of all time, but also as a fighter who appeared to regret his decision to re-sign with the UFC. After his loss to Merab Dvalishvili, which was a poor piece of matchmaking, Aldo seemingly retired from MMA to focus on boxing and earn significant money. He had three boxing matches in 2023 but still owed the UFC one final fight. They booked him perfectly against Jonathan Martinez in Rio for what should have been his farewell. The only issue? Aldo felt a sense of UFC nostalgia and decided to return. It was difficult to watch Aldo face fighters like Mario Bautista and Aiemann Zahabi, although the fight with Zahabi was great. However, it`s not entirely the UFC`s fault; they didn`t expect his return, and because Aldo wasn`t complaining or saying no, this is what transpired. Midway through the third round on Saturday, Aldo looked like he was thinking, “I could have been making a fortune fighting on Jake Paul undercards.” Hearing his reflections on MMA after the controversial loss and throughout fight week was disheartening. A salute to The King of Rio.
Lee: In his prime, he was as exceptional a mixed martial artist as you could ever witness. Aldo is one of the fighters who made me fall in love with this sport. When I think of legendary champions, his performances are always among the first that come to mind. There was something cool about being a fan of Aldo during the WEC era, feeling like you were part of a secret you`d get to boast about once he inevitably joined the UFC. You knew someone was a real fan if they knew about Aldo, and their face would light up just like yours. He certainly didn`t disappoint when he reached the octagon (with one notable exception we shall never mention again). I`ll also remember him for a truly strange biopic featuring an incredibly unnecessary twist that I can only assume is completely accurate and true to life.
Meshew: As the undisputed greatest featherweight of all time, one of the top five (I believe top three) fighters to ever compete, the greatest defensive fighter ever, one of the most historically important figures in the sport, and a man with a uniquely brilliant career that held immense personal meaning for me. I could write extensively about Aldo`s greatness and significance, and I`ve previously defended his legacy countless times. But let me emphasize that this final phase of his career is arguably his most remarkable achievement. A full decade past his athletic peak, Aldo is still competing successfully against (and beating) Top 15 opponents in a weight class higher than where he started. This is virtually unprecedented. However, I suspect we might not have seen the absolute last of him. Aldo`s post-fight messages weren`t definitive retirements; he said things like “this may have been my last time.” I believe after some time, he`ll realize he wants one final, proper sendoff with all the fanfare. The ideal opponent is glaringly obvious: Aldo vs. Patricio Pitbull at featherweight in Rio. A final, glorious farewell for a true legend of the sport.
What was your biggest takeaway from UFC 315 not related to the title fights?
Meshew: Jose Aldo soccer kicked a guy. Enough said.
Lee: As the resident Canadian, I have to give a nod to Mike Malott. Also a slight acknowledgment to his opponent Charles Radtke for perfectly portraying the ignorant, overly patriotic antagonist, which dramatically increased interest in their preliminary bout. Radtke managed to be a clear villain without crossing serious lines. By the time they walked out, the crowd was clamoring for a finish, in a polite Canadian way, of course. The outcome couldn`t have been better scripted: Malott finished Radtke in the second round and then delivered a composed, conciliatory post-fight interview. Malott has been promoted as a key Canadian prospect, and after a setback in his previous home-country fight, he is firmly back on track.
Heck: Avoiding the obvious choices, my biggest takeaway was Jasmine Jasudavicius absolutely dominating Jessica Andrade. Jasudavicius is a different kind of talent; she found MMA later than most but was a natural from the start. Having interviewed her when she was still an amateur, it`s incredible to see her rapid progress, constantly exceeding initial expectations. She completely overwhelmed a former champion, seemingly without breaking a sweat. I would love to see her face Grasso or Fiorot next.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely