UFC 315: Muhammad vs Della Maddalena betting picks & predictions

The highly anticipated UFC 315 is here, with Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena contesting the welterweight title in Montreal this Saturday night. It’s a stacked bill for the Bell Centre, and below are BettingPlanet’s fight previews and free picks for every matchup on the main card.

Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena

Belal Muhammad looks to defend his UFC welterweight title for the first time against surging Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena. Muhammad is riding a 10-fight win streak, while Della Maddalena has won all eight of his UFC appearances.

Muhammad thrives on pressure and control — whether pressing his opponent against the cage or wrestling them to the mat. While he lacks knockout power, his relentless pace breaks opponents down over time.

Della Maddalena, on the other hand, is a powerful striker who will look to keep the fight standing. He has solid takedown defense, but this will be the biggest test of his career.

“JDM” has never fought five rounds before, so expect Muhammad to drag this fight into the later rounds and capitalize on any drop in pace. Muhammad’s relentless cardio and pressure make him a tough puzzle to solve.

It’s a clash of styles that could swing either way, but unless Della Maddalena lands something big early, Muhammad’s experience and output should carry him to victory.

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Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot

Valentina Shevchenko puts her UFC flyweight title on the line in the co-main event as she faces No.2 contender Manon Fiorot. Shevchenko recently reclaimed the belt with a unanimous decision victory over Alexa Grasso, while Fiorot rides a seven-fight UFC win streak.

With her wealth of championship experience, expect Shevchenko to fight strategically. She defeated Grasso with a composed approach, spending plenty of time on the ground. While she doesn’t throw in volume, her accuracy and timing are elite.

Fiorot has a strong karate base that helps her control range and tempo. Like Shevchenko, she’s happy to go the distance, with her last five wins coming by decision.

These two fighters are similar stylistically, but it’s hard to pick against the champ. Shevchenko’s fight IQ, precision striking, and five-round experience should be the deciding factors. Neither fighter is known for knockout power, so expect this one to go the distance.

Jose Aldo vs Aiemann Zahabi

UFC veteran Jose Aldo continues his exciting return from MMA retirement as he faces local hope Aiemann Zahabi. The bantamweight matchup offers a big opportunity for the No.15-ranked Canadian, while Aldo is out to prove he can still compete at 38 years old.

One of the greatest to ever do it, Aldo has always been a potent striker with strong Muay Thai influence. In a battle between two strikers, his head movement and counter strikes will be key. However, he does need to address his low volume, as he rarely outstrikes opponents.

It’s rare for a 37-year-old to be the faster fighter, but Zahabi should have the edge here. He’s a crafty boxer who throws at a higher volume and will look to control the clinch exchanges.

On a five-fight win streak, this would be Zahabi’s biggest scalp yet. He should push the pace and look for success along the fence. While Aldo is the favorite, time may be catching up to him — an upset is on the cards.

Alexa Grasso vs Natalia Silva

Coming off a title shot loss to Valentina Shevchenko in September last year, No.1 flyweight contender Alexa Grasso will be hoping to get back into the title picture. She faces No.5 contender Natalia Silva, a Brazilian prospect currently on a 12-fight winning streak.

Silva enters as a strong favorite in this bout at -222.22 with leading MMA bookmakers. As the younger fighter, she should be faster and stronger, while her unorthodox technique aids her fighting reach. Expect Silva to use the Shevchenko blueprint of fighting at range throughout this fight.

With plenty of UFC experience, Grasso is the more well-rounded fighter here. She does most of her good work in close quarters, and will also have the advantage on the ground. However, if she can’t use combinations to get inside, she’ll struggle to play the outside game.

As the rightful favorite, expect Silva to play the long game. Her style is built to frustrate slower fighters while staying at range. Grasso cannot be ruled out completely, but taking Silva by decision is the smart play.

Benoit Saint-Denis vs Kyle Prepolec

Looking to push up the UFC lightweight rankings, No.13 contender Benoit Saint-Denis enters as a strong betting favorite against veteran Kyle Prepolec. This fight was originally scheduled for No.15 contender Joel Alvarez, but after he pulled out, Prepolec stepped in on short notice.

Now the pressure is on Saint-Denis to deliver. The Frenchman entered the UFC on a rampaging run of 5-1, but recent losses to Renato Moicano and Dustin Poirier have halted his momentum.

Kyle Prepolec isn’t a complete unknown to the UFC after two losses in 2019, but it would be very surprising to see the Canadian pull something out here.

Saint-Denis has secured a finish in all five of his UFC victories, and with such short odds on the win, backing a first-round knockout is probably the only market which shows value for this fight.

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