The Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, plays host to the first title defence of UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.

In his ways stands Aussie Jack Della Maddalena, who’s quick rise through the ranks at 170 have caught a few by surprise, even more so perhaps as he was selected as the replacement for Shavkat Rakhmonov ahead of this main event.

Bookmakers have Muhammad priced as the favourite for this one, and that can largely be put down to Della Maddalena’s route to this title shot. Wins over Kevin Holland and Gilbert Burns are impressive, but not perhaps the CV that would have fans clammoring for the title shot.

The fight to go to the judges' scorecards seems a decent price at 1.57. Seven of Muhammad’s last nine fights have gone the distance. Only an impressive KO win over No.1 contender Sean Brady and an NC against Leon Edwards have seen his fights end in a stoppage of any sort.

Della Maddalena has seen two of his last three results in split decision wins, and while his finish over Gilbert Burns was impressive, all the decisions in his career have come in his current UFC run.

Don’t count Della Maddalena out of this, but it would be a surprise to see this one end within the 25 minutes. Muhammad doesn’t have a fan-friendly style and will no doubt utilise his dominant wrestling to take the fight to the judges.

It’s quite surprising to see the greatest 125-pounder in women’s history priced as an underdog in this one at odds against. A price of 2.20 seems almost too good to pass up in backing Valentina Shevchenko to get the nod against France’s Manon Fiorot.

Shevchenko boasts a 24-4-1 record, with 13 UFC victories, including nine title defenses, the most in women's flyweight history, so it’s fair to say she comes into this one with the experience advantage under her belt.

Fiorot has beaten some formidable competition on this run to a title fight. Dominating the hype train of Erin Blanchfield and comfortably dispatching former 115lbs champion Rose Namajunas means she is not undeserving of this opportunity, but there, in my eyes, is a clear gap in skill level between her and Shevchenko.

While Fiorot’s takedown defense is formidable, Shevchenko is more than happy to keep it on the feet with her elite kickboxing and Muay Thai skills. 

Shevchenko has overcome the hump in beating Alexa Grasso after a phenomenal trilogy, and with a price of 2.20, it’s too good to pass on the Kyrgyz to retain her belt.

The King of Rio makes yet another walk to the octagon against a hometown favourite in Aiemann Zahabi here at UFC 315.

Currently 1-1 in his return since retirement, the UFC have not exactly gifted Aldo opponents on a plate. Fights against Jonathan Martinez and Mario Bautista have proven tricky, with the latter getting a controversial decision win over the former featherweight champion.

Zahabi himself is riding an impressive five-fight win streak, which has seen him crack the top 15. A win over Pedro Munhoz in his last outing is certainly a standout, but Aldo looks like he hasn’t missed a beat since returning to the organisation.

Aldo defended 100% of Bautista’s ten takedowns in his last outing despite going on to lose a split decision, and his recent press conference quotes indicate he wants to put to bed the way that fight panned out.

In my eyes, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Aldo make a last-stitch title charge over the next 18 months should he come out on top here. I believe he was robbed in his last fight and looks better than ever. Aldo to win at 1.50 is the play.

Heavy-hitting light heavyweights are up next, with Lithuanian-born Brit Modestas Bukauskas taking on chaotic Moldovan Ion Cutelaba on the prelims.

Bukauskas has enjoyed a solid run on his return to the organisation since his release in 2021, with a 4-1 record since resigning back in 2023. A KO loss to Vitor Petrino in Brazil stands as his only blemish in that run, but he has bounced back with two finishes of his own.

Just Googling Ion Cutelaba and seeing him tells you all you need to know. The Moldovan is known for his aggressive style and is at this stage considered a veteran at 205, now in his tenth year with the promotion. Four of Cutelaba’s last seven have ended in a finish, with a mixture of wins and losses peppered throughout that run.

Someone is likely going to get finished in this fight, and odds of 1.40 look a solid addition given both fighters’ style and run of wins and losses within the judges’ scorecards.