Muhammad takes on Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 315, which takes place at the Bell Centre in Montreal on April 12.
It’s a title defence that Muhammad has had to wait for, after two attempts to book him against undefeated Kazakh contender Shavkat Rakhmonov failed to produce a fulfilled fight.
The first attempt, in December last year, was shelved after Muhammad contracted a foot infection that left him unable to compete.
Rakhmonov faced Ian Machado Garry instead, and edged a close decision against the talented Irish contender to keep him at the front of the welterweight queue.
Big thanks to the UFC for offering me the shot at the belt first. Unfortunately, due to injury, I won’t be ready for May. I’ll be facing the winner later this year! 👊🏼
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) February 20, 2025
But then injury would strike to plague Rakhmonov and scupper his chances of facing Muhammad in Montreal. The UFC offered the bout, but “Nomad” was forced to decline.
As a result, the UFC matchmakers pivoted to Della Maddalena, who was originally set to face Leon Edwards at UFC London. Now he’ll face Muhammad for the undisputed welterweight title in Canada.
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Della Maddalena is in great form, having won all seven of his UFC bouts to date, but Muhammad’s run of form is even more impressive. In his last 11 fights, “Remember The Name” has won 10, with the other ending in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke.
Now the pair will face off in a five-round title tussle in Montreal, with Rakhmonov waiting in the wings to take on the winner later this year.
Also on the fight card, Valentina Shevchenko will put her women’s flyweight title on the line against Manon Fiorot in the co-main event.
Shevchenko returned to the top of the women’s 125-pound division last year with victory over Alexa Grasso at UFC 306 last September, and will now take on Fiorot, who hasn’t lost since her pro debut back in 2018, and heads into the bout riding a 12-fight win streak, including victories over Katlyn Cerminara, Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield.
