Key points
Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena do battle tonight as the UFC octagon arrives back in Montreal.
Welterweight champion Muhammad finally gets to defend his belt in the main event of UFC 315, which features a world title double header and a host of great names. Throughout fight week Ian Machado Garry has been making his presence felt as the replacement in case of either man pulling out.
In the co-main, Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight belt against the rising French star Manon Fiorot, who hasn’t lost since her MMA debut years ago. The champion recently reclaimed the belt from Alexa Grasso, who also features on the undercard against Natalia Silva.
Elsewhere on the night, Jose Aldo returns to action against Aiemann Zahabi. Legendary former champion Aldo drastically missed weight and, as such, returns to the featherweight division where he initially made his name.
We will have all the action and results here for you on the Bloody Elbow live blog, as well as details on how to watch the event live.
Jack Della Maddalena is UFC welterweight champion
Huge moment as the Australian becomes champion. He wins the unanimous decision, particularly earning it with that last heroic round.
[Link]Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena – Round 5
Belal Muhammad is badly cut after the knee from Della Maddalena just about landed enough to bust him open. Champ comes back with a big shot and THERE is the takedown. The challenger gets up and he’s got Muhammad hurt big time with his strikes! Can he get the stoppage? He gets taken down again but he’s back up and puts his foot down, pushing for the finish! We go the distance!
[Link]Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena – Round 4
We head to the championship rounds after the clearest round yet for Belal Muhammad. Despite what I’m seeing on social media and hearing on the broadcast, I have this one 2-2, or potentially even 3-1 to the champ. He outlands again in that round and pushes for the takedown, kind of lands it but very little damage. Here we go.
[Link]Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena – Round 3
Much better round for Belal Muhammad as he just about outlands Della Maddalena before they head to the championship rounds. Big shot at the end of the round allows him in to almost get his first takedown.
[Link]Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena – Round 2
More big punches land for Della Maddalena as he refuses to let Muhammad in for a takedown. They’re standing and exchanging, Muhammad finally gets through with a level change but Della Maddalena keeps him from getting him down. Strike stats are razor close right now. The champ goes for a spinning backfist, miles off, then Della Maddalena mocks him with one of his own before spinning into a kick. Strong two rounds for the challenger.
[Link]Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena – Round 1
The pair immediately touch gloves to start the fight. Very friendly build-up throughout, but then they engage early. Nothing big lands in the opening half of the round as they stand and Muhammad refuses to move in for the takedown just yet. He wants to show off that Canelo boxing, let’s see. About three-and-a-half minutes in he finally goes for a takedown, misses and lands a big combination on the way out. Big exchange at the end of the round as Della Maddalena lands a big clean uppercut, but takes a shot from Muhammad. Good, close round.
[Link]Belal Muhammad makes the walk
Champion and the betting favorite, Belal Muhammad defends his belt for the first time now!
[Link]Valentina Shevchenko beats Manon Fiorot by Unanimous Decision
Another title defence for the legend, 48-47 and mercifully it’s over. Main event now!
[Link]Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot go the distance
That fight had everything; an illegal knee, a broken nose, big combinations and a competitive scorecard. Imagine if either
[Link]Into round four in our co-main event
Who would have thought? Championship rounds for Shevchenko…
[Link]Valentina Shevchenko busts Manon Fiorot’s nose early
Within minutes the champion lands a vicious shot that badly hurts the challenger!
[Link]Co-main event time
Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot for the flyweight title. We just had a couple of decisions, I dare say we’re heading for another two!
[Link]Jose Aldo retires from MMA
He declares, via a translator, that he doesn’t have it in him to cut weight and go to war any more. Already a UFC Hall of Famer, arguably won his last fight. What a moment for Aldo.
[Link]Aiemann Zahabi defeats Jose Aldo by Unanimous Decision
29-28 across the board for Zahabi, interesting scorecards. He certainly won the third, hard to tell how you score the second. Is this the end of the road for Jose Aldo?
[Link]Wild third round!
Jose Aldo almost had the finish there early on, but he seems to have completely tired and now Zahabi is on top, looking for the finish as the Montreal crowd cheers him on. Huge round three!
[Link]First round ends in excitement
Zahabi finally lets his hands go and stumbles Aldo with big shots as they go back-and-forth.
[Link]Jose Aldo’s speed is incredible
The former champion is showing Zahabi that despite his age and weight issues, he’s still a top contender.
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Vitor Belfort given emotional Hall of Fame video package
Even the toughest guys in the world like Belfort get a little teary watching these.
[Link]Natalia Silva defeats Alexa Grasso by Unanimous Decision
30-27 across the board. Best part about that fight is that it’s over and we get to watch Jose Aldo next.
[Link]Benoit Saint-Denis submits Kyle Prepolec in Round 2
That fight was about what you’d expect from a number 13 contender fighting a guy who is 0-2 in the UFC. Complete domination in the first, smashed him in the second and gets the arm triangle. Not sure what we learn from that aside from Saint-Denis getting to stay on the card and getting paid.
[Link]Benoit Saint-Denis vs Kyle Prepolec gets out main card started
Cinderella story for Prepolec as he steps up on late notice to return to the UFC and take on one of the highest-touted lightweights in the world on pay-per-view. What a moment!
MIKE MALOTT KNOCKS OUT CHARLES RADTKE IN THE SECOND ROUND
HUGE SHOT TO OPEN THE SECOND ROUND AND THE MONTREAL CROWD ARE GOING NUTS! WHAT AN END TO THE PRELIMS!
[Link]Featured prelim on the way
Canada’s Mike Malott faces American Charles Radtke. Exciting matchup. The home crowd are very into it.
[Link]Jasmine Jasudavicius submits Jessica Andrade in one round
Rear naked choke finishes the fight as the Canadian crowd go wild! And her coaches have given her the black belt she has worked years to earn.
[Link]Our first world champion of the night up next
Jessica Andrade takes on Canadian Jasmine Jasudavicius in a strawweight clash!
[Link]Modestas Bukauskas defeats Ion Cutelaba by Split Decision
30-27 on either scorecard is completely wild. Very weird scorecards and Daniel Cormier is outraged
[Link]Navajo Stirling defeats Ivan Erslan by Unanimous Decision
29-28 across the board, that knockdown at the end secured him the win on all three scorecards!
[Link]Stirling and Erslan somehow go the distance
Mad fight, particularly in the last minute as Erslan survives an absurd late onslaught to get to the scorecards!
[Link]Navajo Stirling vs Ivan Erslan kicks off the late prelims
The early prelims are done, let’s see what the next two hours have in store!
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Marc-André Barriault viciously knocks out Bruno Silva
WHAT A KO! Looks like we’re going to have a few bonus contenders tonight!
Daniel Santos defeats Lee Jeong Yeong by Unanimous Decision
The Brazilian ends a torrid two years out of action with a big decision win.
We head to the scorecards after Daniel Santos vs Lee Jeong Yeong
Very eventful three rounds, let’s see what the judges thought!
[Link]Daniel Santos vs Lee Jeong Yeong up next
Not likely that this one will be done quite as quickly as the last one!
[Link]Bekzat Almakhan KOs Brad Katona in Round 1
WOW! Uppercut in the first few minutes blasts out a two-time winner of The Ultimate Fighter
[Link]Big crowd in early
Canadian Katona gets the event started. A surprising underdog for this fight.
[Link]Brad Katona vs Bekzat Almakhan kicks off the prelims
We are about to get underway with the early prelims
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Welcome to the Bloody Elbow live blog
Good evening and welcome to the Bloody Elbow live blog from UFC 315. What a card in Montreal as Belal Muhammad defends against Jack Della Maddalena
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