Jack Della Maddalena vs. Belal Muhammad: A Clash of Styles with High Stakes Jack Della Maddalena presents a tough stylistic matchup for Belal Muhammad. An elite-level striker, Della Maddalena is known for his crisp, fluid combinations that often find their target with precision—particularly the chin. With a 7-0 start to his UFC career, four of those victories coming by knockout and one via first-round submission, JDM has quickly established himself as a dangerous finisher. While his submission defense has yet to be truly tested in the UFC, he has shown a willingness to engage in grappling exchanges, most notably in his short-notice bout against Bassil Hafez. In that fight, Jack attempted multiple guillotines, which resulted in Hafez securing takedowns. However, Della Maddalena also displayed strong takedown defense and executed several reversals, keeping the fight competitive and creating opportunities to finish. Against Gilbert Burns, JDM was tested in the wrestling department. Although Burns found some success in the grappling realm, he was never able to threaten with submissions due to Jack’s active defense and refusal to accept bottom position. It’s worth noting that Burns’ striking threat forced JDM to be more cautious, potentially making him more susceptible to takedowns in that matchup. In contrast, Belal Muhammad does not pose the same striking danger. While Belal has made significant strides in his overall game—especially since training with Khabib Nurmagomedov—his stand-up is not on the level of JDM's. Muhammad’s jab is sharp, and he mixes the martial arts well, particularly with his evolved wrestling and top control. However, he has been knocked down three times in the UFC and lost all three of those fights, suggesting a vulnerability Della Maddalena is well-equipped to exploit. If Belal plans to control JDM on the ground, he must be prepared for Della Maddalena’s sneaky submission game and his ability to reverse positions. Jack showed a relentless pursuit of submissions and scrambles against Hafez, which could frustrate Belal’s attempts to maintain dominant positions. While a submission victory over Muhammad may be unlikely, it’s entirely plausible that Jack can create enough separation to land a decisive strike. Official Prediction: Jack Della Maddalena via 3rd-Round KO Anddddddd NEWWWW!