Should Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev Be Next? UFC 315 Analysis

Assessing UFC 315 as an Event

Heck: Underrated on paper, the event significantly over-delivered on expectations, featuring a great main event that brought potential chaos.

Lee: With all due respect to others, this event exemplified what a high-quality professional fighting event looks like. It featured great fighters, high stakes, and numerous bouts that resonated deeply with the home-country crowd.

Meshew: It might not have been the absolute best card ever, but it was undoubtedly better than many anticipated, and look at all the intriguing future possibilities it created.

Should Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev Be Next?

Lee: While it`s a straightforward answer, yes, it should be next. The fight itself, however, would be anything but boring, especially after witnessing Della Maddalena`s capabilities.

Comparing Makhachev and Muhammad isn`t straightforward, but as Saturday`s main event unfolded and Della Maddalena`s victory became likely, it raised questions about how the Australian`s sharp striking and surprisingly improved takedown defense would fare against the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. It`s a highly intriguing prospect. While I was initially focused on Makhachev vs. Topuria, if this is the direction things are heading, few should complain. It will either add another major achievement to Makhachev`s already impressive legacy or, if Della Maddalena pulls off another upset, create a new superstar.

Heck: Should it be next? Yes. Am I entirely confident it will be? Not at this moment, and there`s one key reason: it wasn`t announced immediately after the main event.

I know Dana White didn`t attend the press conference, but he doesn`t need a live microphone to break news. He could have easily announced JDM vs. Islam for the welterweight title later this year, and Topuria vs. Oliveira for an interim lightweight belt at UFC 317, perhaps via social media on his way out. The fact he didn`t suggests to me that Makhachev vs. Topuria might still be the UFC`s preferred choice – a realistic candidate for the biggest fight they could quickly put together to cap off International Fight Week. My gut says 60-40 in favor of JDM-Islam, but my confidence isn`t high.

Meshew: One hundred percent, this fight is next.

While I agree that Dana White`s words aren`t always definitive, consider this: if you`re Islam, why accept any other opponent? You`re the top pound-for-pound fighter, the new champion of a division up is calling you out, other contenders are amenable, and Dana White himself mentioned the possibility. If the UFC wasn`t open to booking Islam vs. JDM next, Dana would have shut down that speculation before UFC 315 and pushed for Islam vs. Ilia. But they didn`t, and now it seems widely accepted that this is the likely next step. Why would the UFC fight that consensus? Is Ilia vs. Topuria significantly bigger? Is it worth potentially damaging their relationship with the top pound-for-pound fighter? Of course not. And we know the UFC isn`t known for just throwing money at fights to make them happen unless the timing is right. This fight is happening next, get ready for it.

As for whether it *should* happen, honestly, probably not from a divisional perspective. It`s a good opportunity for Islam right now, given the current lightweight contenders (Arman is a complex situation), but the welterweight division is extremely deep, and Islam moving up complicates it. However, what `should` happen isn`t always what does; this fight is the reality.

Excitement Level for Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili Superfight?

Heck: Extremely excited, because the women`s divisions are in need of a major spark, and quickly.

It`s tough for Natalia Silva, who could absolutely be next in line if Zhang isn`t available, but we`re approaching `now or never` territory for this particular superfight. Zhang has expressed her desire to move up to 125 pounds. Let`s make this fight happen now, and then the promising influx of rising contenders can compete for title shots throughout 2025.

Lee: Pretty excited! But perhaps not as excited as I am for Natalia Silva to get her opportunity.

One of my biggest takeaways from the flyweight action was that Silva genuinely has the style to challenge Shevchenko. Her dynamic striking is incredibly difficult to neutralize, and she forces opponents to expend a lot of energy attempting takedowns. She also possesses significant charisma. If Shevchenko is to eventually pass the torch in the flyweight division, Silva is the ideal candidate. Additionally, I still want to see Zhang face Virna Jandiroba, who is a very worthy challenger with a compelling stylistic matchup. While you should never delay compelling superfights, the timing for Shevchenko vs. Zhang feels just shy of perfect, though still exciting.

Meshew: Very pumped. Valentina Shevchenko is arguably one of the greatest female fighters ever (at least third), and she`s still performing near her peak. Zhang Weili is similarly ranked (at least fourth), also at the top of her game. Shevchenko has already had two memorable fights against Amanda Nunes (the greatest), and now she can add another megafight against Zhang. For Zhang, a win over Shevchenko would elevate the discussion about her place among the all-time greats.

Outside of Amanda Nunes returning to fight Kayla Harrison, this is the most significant fight possible in women`s MMA. Let`s make it happen.

Reflecting on Jose Aldo`s Career and Recent Fight

Heck: He is the greatest featherweight of all time, but in his recent appearance, he looked like a man who regretted his decision to re-sign with the UFC.

After his loss to Merab Dvalishvili, which followed questionable matchmaking, Aldo announced his retirement from MMA to pursue boxing and potentially more lucrative opportunities. Although he competed three times in boxing in 2023, he still owed the UFC one final fight on his contract. They perfectly scheduled him against Jonathan Martinez in Rio for what was intended to be his final Octagon appearance. The only issue was Aldo`s nostalgia led him to sign a new deal.

It was difficult watching Aldo compete against lower-ranked opponents, although the fight against Aiemann Zahabi was excellent. It`s not entirely the UFC`s fault; they didn`t anticipate his return, and he willingly accepted the matchups without complaint. Halfway through the third round on Saturday, Aldo seemed to be contemplating the potential boxing earnings he might have missed out on. Hearing his reflections on MMA after the controversial loss, and throughout fight week, was poignant. A salute to The King of Rio.

Lee: In his prime, he was an exceptionally skilled fighter, one of the athletes who ignited my passion for mixed martial arts. When I think of dominant champions, his performances immediately come to mind.

Being an Aldo fan during the WEC era felt like being in on a secret, knowing you`d have bragging rights once he inevitably joined the UFC roster. You could easily tell if someone else was a fan; mentioning Aldo would light up their face just like yours. And he certainly didn`t disappoint upon entering the Octagon (with the exception of one instance we will collectively never mention again). I`ll also remember him for a truly bizarre biopic featuring an incredibly unnecessary twist that I can only assume is completely accurate.

Meshew: He is the unquestioned greatest featherweight of all time, easily one of the five greatest fighters to ever compete (I believe he`s top three), the greatest defensive fighter ever, one of the most crucial figures in the sport`s history, and a fighter whose uniquely brilliant career held immense personal meaning for me.

I could write volumes about Aldo`s greatness and significance, and I`ve already written extensively defending his legacy. But let me just say, this final phase of his career is arguably his most remarkable achievement. Aldo is now a full decade past his peak as a fighter, yet he is still defeating (as he did against Aiemann Zahabi) or competing effectively against Top 15 opposition in a weight class heavier than where he started. This is virtually unprecedented.

However, I suspect we might not have seen the very last of him. Aldo`s post-fight comments about retirement were not entirely definitive, suggesting “this may have been my last time in the Octagon” rather than a firm declaration. I believe after some time, Aldo might decide he wants one more bout and a proper, ceremonial sendoff. The perfect scenario for this feels painfully obvious: Aldo vs. Patricio Pitbull at featherweight in Rio. A final, glorious curtain call for a true legend of the sport.

Meshew: As a quick highlight, Jose Aldo landed a soccer kick on an opponent – that alone tells a story.

Standout Performances Beyond the Main/Co-Main?

Lee: As the Canadian contributor, I have to commend Mike Malott.

A slight acknowledgment also goes to his opponent, Charles Radtke, for perfectly embodying the role of the ignorant, overly patriotic outsider, which tenfold increased interest in their preliminary bout. Radtke came across as a complete jerk without crossing any significant boundaries (in my opinion). By the time they walked to the cage, the crowd was eagerly anticipating a Malott victory, albeit in a polite Canadian fashion.

The outcome couldn`t have been scripted better: Malott finished Radtke in the second round and then delivered a strong, unifying post-fight promo. Malott has been presented as a key Canadian prospect, and after a previous setback in his home country, he is now firmly back on track.

Heck: Stepping away from the most obvious candidates, I`m highlighting Jasmine Jasudavicius` utterly dominant performance against Jessica Andrade.

Jasudavicius is a unique talent, finding MMA relatively late but showing a natural aptitude from the start. As someone who interviewed her during her amateur days, it`s remarkable to see how quickly she has progressed and surpassed the initial expectations people had for her. She absolutely rolled over a former champion with seemingly no effort. I would love to see her get a fight against Alexa Grasso or Manon Fiorot next.