UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena – Post-Fight Matchmaking

Jack Della Maddalena

JDM took it to the champ this weekend and walked away with the belt. There are numerous contenders lining up for his first title defense. Sean Brady is currently the number one contender, but I believe Shavkat Rakhmonov is next in line. However, Shavkat recently underwent hand surgery and will be sidelined for a while. That makes Brady a viable option in the meantime.

Another matchup is Islam Makhachev, who was keeping his eye on the main event eyeing a second belt. That matchup would be insane. Is JDM too big for Islam? How would Islam’s strength translate to welterweight?

Belal Muhammad

Unfortunately for Belal, he lost his title on Saturday night. Most of the top five fighters are either occupied or have already faced him. A smart move would be to look outside the top five—a matchup with Ian Garry or the winner of Usman vs. Buckley could catapult Belal back into title contention.

Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina defended her belt once again and holds wins over most of her division. It only makes sense to conquer another division in a super fight against Zhang Weili. It’s a no-brainer to make this bout happen before Valentina hangs up the gloves.

Manon Fiorot

Fiorot came up short in her title challenge on Saturday night. Her next step should be a fight with Natalia Silva, who defeated former champion and number one contender Alexa Grasso on the same card. The winner should be next in line for a title shot.

Jose Aldo

The legend and fan favorite Jose Aldo lost a close yet exciting fight on Saturday. He announced his retirement afterward. We wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.

Aiemann Zahabi

Aiemann Zahabi scored a huge win over Jose Aldo and should now face someone like Kyler Phillips—a fighter slightly higher in the rankings and a good test as Zahabi climbs the ladder.

Alexa Grasso

Grasso lost at UFC 315 and should wait to face the winner of Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber. Either matchup would be fireworks.

Natalia Silva

Silva deserves a shot at Manon Fiorot in a number one contender fight. The stakes would be high, and the winner would be ready for a title opportunity.

Benoît Saint-Denis

BSD is now back in the win column, and a super exciting fight to make would be against Michael Chandler. A win over Chandler could give Saint-Denis the momentum to break into the top ten.

Kyle Prepolec

Prepolec stepped in on short notice and deserves another shot in the UFC. A matchup against Austin Hubbard would be a great return fight, offering both men a solid opportunity to earn a win.