Robert Whittaker isn`t sure if Belal Muhammad used the best strategy in his recent fight.
At UFC 315, Belal Muhammad lost a unanimous decision to Jack Della Maddalena in the welterweight title bout. Della Maddalena`s performance was outstanding; he successfully defended against Muhammad`s takedown attempts and landed significant strikes on the feet. This victory made `JDM` the third Australian UFC champion, joining Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski, a fact that pleased Whittaker greatly.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Whittaker expressed his delight: “Another Australian champion! How great does it feel to be an Aussie right now? He stuck to his plan and performed exceptionally well. I couldn`t be happier; I`m incredibly proud.”
However, despite his satisfaction with the outcome, the former UFC middleweight king mused about whether Muhammad truly showcased his full potential. Muhammad had previously stated he would focus on striking, aiming to display `Canelo hands,` and while he did attempt nine takedowns, it wasn`t the consistent grappling pressure characteristic of his typical approach.
“I anticipated more takedowns,” Whittaker stated. He acknowledged the ease of commentary from the outside, admitting, “I don`t know his condition or what he was experiencing during the fight.” He observed that later in the fight (rounds 3/4), when Muhammad combined striking setups with takedown attempts, they appeared cleaner, particularly when drawing Della Maddalena into the open.
He questioned, “Why didn`t we see more of that?” He felt Muhammad might have been “trying to make a point striking with Jack for the first three rounds,” calling such an approach “ridiculous” given Della Maddalena`s proficiency in mid-range boxing.
Whittaker described Muhammad`s successful formula: “What brought Belal to the title… was the fact that he could punch-punch-punch, shoot, punch-punch-punch.” He clarified that Muhammad isn`t known for tricky submissions on the ground like `Gilbert Burns,` but rather for integrating takedowns with striking. “And we didn’t see that,” he added.
However, Whittaker also acknowledged that Della Maddalena`s performance might have been key in preventing Muhammad from executing his usual strategy.
Whittaker stated, “I can also look at it that Jack did such a good job dissuading Belal from the takedowns, as well as keeping that distance.” He noted Della Maddalena`s strong control of the cage center in the early rounds, preventing Muhammad from pressing him against the fence. This led him to wonder if the lack of takedowns was due to Della Maddalena`s excellent defense or Muhammad`s deliberate decision to test his striking, which Whittaker called “an uphill fight” despite respecting the “rock-and-stick way” of doing it.
Following his victory, Della Maddalena expressed interest in a potential `superfight` against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, a matchup UFC CEO Dana White had previously mentioned as a possibility. If this fight happens, Whittaker believes it would be a significantly tougher challenge for Della Maddalena than his bout against Muhammad.
Whittaker commented on this potential matchup: “I’m curious. I’m very curious.” He assessed Makhachev as doing “everything Belal does, but better. To a much higher degree.” Whittaker highlighted Makhachev`s superior takedown game and ability to capitalize on dominant positions. However, he pointed out that Alexander Volkanovski was able to land strikes on Makhachev, suggesting Della Maddalena, who favors close range, could also do so. He cautioned that fighting at close range also makes `JDM` more vulnerable to Makhachev`s elite grappling.
He concluded, “What does that mean? I don’t know.” (accompanied by laughter).
Wesley Dunham