Jack Della Maddalena controls the Octagon, uses sharp striking to claim welterweight title

Belal Muhammad delivered a brilliant performance in the first defense of his UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 315 on Saturday in the Bell Center in Montreal.

Muhammad left Canada as a former champion, though, because Della Maddalena fought the bout of his lifetime. He outstruck Muhammad in a classic battle and won the championship by scores of 48-47 twice and 49-46.

Della Maddalena turned pro in 2016 and lost the first two bouts in his career. But Saturday's victory was his 18th in a row and easily his most impressive. It was a kickboxing battle for the most part and Della Maddalena landed the cleaner, sharper and more damaging punches.

Muhammad refers to his striking as his "Canelo hands," in reference to undisputed super middleweight boxing champion Canelo Alvarez. And Muhammad looked outstanding with his hands. But Della Maddalena had a 178-132 edge in significant strikes, connected on 52 percent to Muhammad's 41 percent and dished out punishment that marked up Muhmmad's face big-time.

"He brings the pressure and I knew I had to be smart," said Della Maddalena, who controlled the center of the Octagon for most of the night and didn't allow Muhammad to make his wrestling a big part of the bout.

Muhamamd was 3 of 9 in takedowns, a low total for a wrestler going up against one of the welterweight division's best boxers. He didn't get his first takedown until the fourth and didn't even attempt one in the third.

Della Maddalena executed the plan to keep the fight standing to perfection and it won him the belt.

"Going in there against Belal with that sort of pressure wreslting, you have to be smart," Della Maddalena said. "I couldn't spend too much time on my back. I knew I would spend a bit of time on my back but I felt like I took a breath and then made my move."

Muhammad put on the pressure in the fifth and was piecing Della Maddalena up, but the Australian challenger never backed off and never quit throwing.