UFC 315 roundtable: Does a Belal Muhammad win help or hurt the UFC’s plans?

Belal Muhammad’s first title protection was purported to occur 5 months in the past. Who knew its delay would find yourself muddying the waters in three divisions?

At UFC 310, Muhammad was purported to defend the welterweight championship in opposition to the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, however a foot an infection pressured Muhammad out and quite a bit has modified since then. A number of authentic challengers have stepped up at 170 kilos, together with Muhammad’s UFC 315 adversary Jack Della Maddalena, after which there’s the thrill swirling round Muhammad’s pal, light-weight king Islam Makhachev.

Ought to Muhammad lose Saturday, that might open up a path for Makhachev to maneuver as much as 170 kilos to combat Della Maddalena. But when that occurs, what will we do with Ilia Topuria, who lately vacated the featherweight title with the expectation he might combat for a belt at 155 pouds? If Muhammad wins, does that make Makhachev vs. Topuria the plain combat to make (particularly with UFC 317 nonetheless needing a fundamental occasion) or does Topuria nonetheless must beat a high light-weight contender to earn his alternative?

UFC 315 isn’t probably the most hyped card of the yr, however MMA Combating’s Alexander Okay. Lee, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew sat down to determine what storylines might emerge from the UFC’s return to Montreal, which additionally might see flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko arrange a superfight with Zhang Weili.

1. What’s the most effective fundamental occasion end result for the UFC’s future plans?

Lee: It’s no secret that I’m an advocate for chaos and which means Jack Della Maddalena has to win.

With respect to “JDM,” this wasn’t even purported to be his alternative. He actually has the credentials for it, however Shavkat Rakhmonov has clearly been the No. 1 alternative for someday and had been it not for accidents preserving him on the sidelines, he’d be the one receiving the chance to show the division on its head.

Because it stands, our hopes for a large shift lie on Della Maddalena’s shoulders. I wish to see him make that first domino fall, so Islam Makhachev can go up, Ilia Topuria can combat another person for a vacant light-weight title, and Makhachev can drop again all the way down to light-weight sooner or later to lastly settle the Topuria rivalry.

Heck: Each outcomes are attention-grabbing, however I’ll say it’s Muhammad retaining.

After all, I’d be wildly intrigued by Islam Makhachev transferring as much as welterweight to try to win a second belt — and hoping he’d vacate the light-weight title — however Muhammad is vastly underrated, and I’m curious to see how his title run might look if he beats JDM, then fights Rakhmonov, then Ian Machado Garry, and the entire different prospects based mostly on what the following couple of months appear like.

Additionally, there are nonetheless A TON of attention-grabbing light-weight title fights for Makhachev, and I’m nonetheless holding out hope for Arman Tsarukyan getting his likelihood sooner or later.

Meshew: The “finest” end result for the UFC has virtually a zero p.c likelihood of taking place, however since that’s what you requested for, right here it’s: Belal Muhammad defeats Jack Della Maddalena, will get on the mic and instantly vacates his title to maneuver as much as 185 kilos.

Muhammad is an undeniably nice fighter, however we don’t must faux like he’s a champion that UFC is determined to have. His fights are likely to not be that thrilling and for as a lot as he’s tried to be fascinating on the mic, it’s doesn’t fairly recover from. Having Muhammad as champ is one thing the UFC can tolerate however won’t ever be stoked about.

So if he decides to willingly drop the belt, that’s clearly excellent news for the UFC, who can now put Islam Makhachev in a welterweight title combat, however as an alternative of it being in opposition to JDM, now it’s in opposition to Shavkat Rakhmonov. That’s about pretty much as good of a combat because the promotion can ask for.

And hey, I do know Dricus du Plessis says he’s combating Khamzat Chimaev later this yr, however you by no means know. Muhammad has been attempting to combat Chimaev for ages, so if the UFC wished to strap an interim title to that combat and put it at Worldwide Battle Week, I think individuals would come round to the concept.

2. Valentina Shevchenko beats Manon Fiorot. Her subsequent title protection is in opposition to…

Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Meshew: There’s a very good case for Natalia Silva if she beats Alexa Grasso, however I simply don’t see that occuring. Silva doesn’t have the juice but, and there’s a sneaky line build up at flyweight. My guess is the following flyweight title challenger is the winner of the Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber combat at this finish of this month. For one, it’s a fundamental occasion which is often a greater indicator of being within the title image, and it’s additionally two greater names than Silva has proper now.

Blanchfield was hyped as the following massive factor, and she or he’s nonetheless simply 25 years outdated. And Barber hyped herself up as the following massive factor and has lastly turned the nook to truly good fighter. I believe the UFC will favor the identify and hype of both lady in comparison with the hardcore fan darling that’s Silva.

Lee: Alexa Grasso tetralogy! I child, I child.

Very similar to with my JDM reply, I wish to see some motion in these divisions, and which means Natalia Silva placing on a present in opposition to the previous champion and cementing (icing?) her spot because the No. 1 contender. Silva has a authentic likelihood to not solely be a recent identify for Shevchenko to combat, she may simply have the talents to beat her—or on the very least, catch Shevchenko in a decline whereas Silva approaches her peak.

After that, I nonetheless see loads of compelling names for Shevchenko – particularly if Jasmine Jasudavicius knocks off Jessica Andrade on Saturday – and I’m at all times in favor of champions holding court docket moderately than chasing (or maybe welcoming) fighters from different divisions.

Heck: It needs to be “Natty Ice” with a win over Alexa Grasso, however it doesn’t matter what occurs, Zhang Weili shall be subsequent as a result of time is working out in placing that combat collectively.

The ladies’s divisions within the UFC are aggressive, however they desperately want a spark, and reserving a combat between Shevchenko and Weili will surely present one. Silva would seemingly have to attend for her likelihood to combat for the belt, but when she beats Grasso – and I imagine she is going to – both combat could be fairly darn massive for her.

3. Identify one fighter who might steal the present in Montreal?

Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photos

Heck: I already talked about her within the earlier query, it’s “Natty Ice,”

Silva is enjoyable as hell when she competes, plus she has a contagious character that might actually put her over to the fan base. If she beats Grasso, it is not going to be in a boring style, plus she’ll minimize a post-fight promo that can get individuals excited for her. Simple decide for me.

Meshew: I’m so upset. The reply was clearly Benoit Saint Denis and, my man, Joel Alvarez, however now it appears like that combat is off. If Reiner de Ridder hadn’t simply beat the soul out of Bo Nickal, unhappiness would reign within the Meshew family proper now. However with that Saint Denis and Alvarez now not an possibility, I’ll default to a different very on model alternative: the GOAT, Jose Aldo.

Aldo faces Aiemann Zahabi in one of many worst items of matchmaking in trendy MMA historical past however that doesn’t matter. Aldo is likely one of the 5 biggest fighters to ever dwell and each time he steps again on the market he solely reinforces how absurdly nice he’s. Identify me one other MMA fighter who continues to be beating elite competitors a decade after their prime and doing so in a more durable weight class? I’ll wait.

Aldo goes to return out and as soon as once more show his greatness and when he does, the UFC goes to shock the world. Dana will come to the post-fight press convention and acknowledge that they’ve mishandled this remaining chapter of his profession with insane and horrible matchups, and likewise screwed him out of a bantamweight title shot by giving it to crippled T.J. Dillashaw for some cause.

And so, in consideration of their repeated and egregious f*ck ups, and the truth that Aldo gave present champion Merab Dvalishvili probably the most troublesome combat of his present run, the promotion is pulling (presumably) injured Sean O’Malley from the principle occasion of UFC 316 and changing him with Jose Aldo. Righteousness prevails!

Lee: Jasmine Jasudavicius, that is your second.

The St. Catharines native is a late bloomer, however she’s made up for misplaced time with a sequence of spectacular performances, together with a beatdown of latest bantamweight title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva. It’s unclear how a lot room is left to develop for the 36-year-old Jasudavicius, however she’s making all the appropriate strikes to date, together with organising a gathering with former UFC champion and two-division risk Jessica Andrade.

A powerful outing Saturday takes Jasudavicius from quirky contender to authentic title challenger, one thing Canada has been lacking for some time.