In a moment of reflection following Jack Della Maddalena’s victory over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, grappling sensation Craig Jones acknowledged that his criticism of the former welterweight contender may have crossed a line at times.
“I feel a little bit bad about that,” Jones admitted in a recent interview. “Belal is actually, he’s a nice guy. You know, he’s a nice guy. He’s just not a finisher, and people just really don’t like his banter, and McGregor’s bullied him a lot.”
The Australian jiu-jitsu ace, who worked extensively with Della Maddalena in preparation for the championship bout, had previously made headlines with some particularly pointed comments about Muhammad’s finishing record in the UFC.
“Belal’s finishing rate is not very good,” Jones had stated bluntly to Alex Wendling before the fight. “We don’t really see a great deal of ground and pound, and we don’t see a great deal of submissions out of him.”
Jones had even delivered a particularly colorful analogy regarding Muhammad’s one finish in sixteen UFC appearances that quickly went viral in MMA circles.
Despite his sometimes harsh criticism, Jones expressed genuine respect for Muhammad’s abilities. “He is a talented fighter, talented wrestler, and very good at what he does,” Jones clarified.
The grappling coach’s technical insights proved valuable for Della Maddalena, who successfully defended against Muhammad’s takedown attempts throughout their championship clash. The Australian striker’s defensive wrestling was a key factor in securing a unanimous decision victory with scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 from the judges.
Jones claimed that his involvement in Della Maddalena’s training camp came at the direct request of UFC President Dana White, who supposedly reached out personally for assistance in preparing the Australian for Muhammad’s grinding style.
With the championship now in Della Maddalena’s possession, attention has already turned to potential future matchups. The new welterweight king has expressed interest in a potential champion versus champion showdown with lightweight ruler Islam Makhachev.
“I think it’s a beautiful challenge,” Della Maddalena said regarding a potential matchup with Makhachev. “I’m gonna get him back for Volk,” he added, referencing fellow Australian Alexander Volkanovski’s two unsuccessful title challenges against Makhachev.
