logo
Carlos Prates: Jack Della Maddalena won't be a 'hard fight' for Belal Muhammad at UFC 315

Carlos Prates: Jack Della Maddalena won't be a 'hard fight' for Belal Muhammad at UFC 315

USA Today04-04-2025

Carlos Prates doesn't see Jack Della Maddalena as a stern test for UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) defends his welterweight title against Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) May 10 in the UFC 315 main event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Surging contender Prates confidently predicts a Muhammad win.
'I think Belal's going to win,' Prates told Home of Fight. 'Jack Della Maddalena looks like a good fighter, but he fought one time Kevin Holland and he won by split decision. Then he fought another guy, I don't remember the name, he's not even anymore in the UFC, and then he fought Gilbert Burns and he was losing the fight, and in the last minute he won the fight.
'OK, it's good but only his good win is against Gilbert Burns, and Belal Muhammad has been beating a lot of guys really good. I would like to see Jack Della Maddalena as a champ because he's striker and things like that, but I think Belal Muhammad's going to win. It's not going to be a hard fight.'
After four knockouts and four Performance of the Night bonuses to kick off his octagon tenure, Fighting Nerds' Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will look to emerge as a top contender when he takes on Ian Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) April 26 in the UFC on ESPN 66 main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 315.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jon Jones: Dana White gets things done, Francis Ngannou 'could very easily be back in UFC'
Jon Jones: Dana White gets things done, Francis Ngannou 'could very easily be back in UFC'

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Jon Jones: Dana White gets things done, Francis Ngannou 'could very easily be back in UFC'

Jon Jones: Dana White gets things done, Francis Ngannou 'could very easily be back in UFC' Jon Jones isn't ruling out the possibility of a Francis Ngannou return to the UFC. Ngannou's departure from the UFC was far from amicable. He signed with PFL after failing to come to terms on a new deal with the UFC, departing as the reigning heavyweight champion. UFC CEO Dana White was recently asked about the possibility of Ngannou coming back, where he simply responded, "Probably not." With current UFC heavyweight champion Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) continuously stating a title-unification bout with interim champ Tom Aspinall doesn't interest him, a potential fight with Ngannou, however, does. But is there a world where White re-signs "The Predator?" "I think Dana gets things done," Jones said on the "Full Send Podcast." "I think business speaks before emotions. If Francis presents himself in a humble way, I think that he could very easily be back in the UFC." Despite White and Ngannou's public rift in the past, Jones insists White wouldn't pass up on the opportunity if it was presented correctly. "Absolutely," Jones said on the possibility of Ngannou returning to the UFC. "Dana White is one of the best sports minds in recent history for a reason, and money talks. Francis brings eyes, and I'm sure Dana will be interested. He can be stubborn. I think I'm an example. People, they grow and mature, and time changes things, and time heals all. There was moments in my career where I felt like Dana absolutely hated me. Now I feel he's a big advocator for me."

Tyrese Haliburton reveals how girlfriend and ‘Love Island' are part of injury rehab
Tyrese Haliburton reveals how girlfriend and ‘Love Island' are part of injury rehab

New York Post

timean hour ago

  • New York Post

Tyrese Haliburton reveals how girlfriend and ‘Love Island' are part of injury rehab

Jalen Brunson isn't the only NBA star captivated by a certain reality TV dating show. Speaking to ESPN on Thursday after taking down the Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton revealed how watching 'Love Island' with girlfriend Jade Jones has been part of his recovery from a strained right calf. Advertisement 'My girl, Jade, is staying on me to keep doing the treatment when the people aren't there, she wants to watch 'Love Island' right now and she's like, 'Before we put it on, we've got to put something on the calf,'' said Haliburton, who scored 14 points in Indiana's 108-91 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to force a Game 7. Jones, who has supported Haliburton, 25, throughout the Pacers' playoff run, later verified her boyfriend's remarks. Advertisement 5 Tyrese Haliburton has been watching 'Love Island' with girlfriend Jade Jones. Jade Jones/Instagram 'You heard!!!!' she exclaimed in an Instagram Story that featured a clip of Haliburton opening up about their 'Love Island' watch parties. An international sensation, 'Love Island' has interactions across the globe, with the U.S. version launching its seventh season on Peacock earlier this month. 5 Ariana Madix is the host of the American version of 'Love Island.' Ben Symons/Peacock Advertisement 5 Tyrese Haliburton spoke about watching 'Love Island'while rehabbing a calf injury. ESPN/X Hosted by Bravo alum Ariana Madix, the show follows a group of singles looking to find love in a dreamy locale. Days before Haliburton revealed his 'Love Island' fandom, Knicks star Brunson sent fans into a tizzy after posting a cryptic tweet about the beloved show. 5 Tyrese Haliburton during the Pacers' Game 6 win on June 19, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images Advertisement 5 Tyrese Haliburton has been supported by girlfriend Jade Jones throughout the playoffs. Jade Jones/Instagram 'I am genuinely confused,' the two-time NBA All-Star wrote Tuesday on X before immediately following up with, 'Damn my bad yall, I was talking about love island.' Though unclear if Haliburton and Brunson, 28, have exchanged 'Love Island' takes, the two recently clashed in the Eastern Conference finals, where the Pacers finished the Knicks in six games. Haliburton has been grappling with injuries to his right leg, which were spotlighted Monday in a forgettable Game 5. He is averaging 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 9 assists this postseason. Game 7 is set for Sunday night in Oklahoma City.

Kamaru Usman fights back tears after beating Joaquin Buckley to earn first UFC win since 2021
Kamaru Usman fights back tears after beating Joaquin Buckley to earn first UFC win since 2021

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Kamaru Usman fights back tears after beating Joaquin Buckley to earn first UFC win since 2021

Kamaru Usman fought back tears on Saturday after overcoming Joaquin Buckley in Atlanta, a result that marked his first UFC win since 2021. Usman, who retained the welterweight title five times during a three-year reign, used his wrestling prowess to dominate Buckley for four rounds, before surviving a fifth-round scare to earn a unanimous-decision win. Advertisement The scorecards read 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 in Usman's favour, as the Nigerian-American snapped a three-fight losing streak. In doing so, he also broke Buckley's six-fight winning run. Usman had last scored a victory in November 2021, outpointing old rival Colby Covington in his final successful title defence. Then, in August 2022, he was en route to a comfortable decision win over Leon Edwards before succumbing to a dramatic, late knockout. Usman, who previously outpointed Edwards in 2015, lost their trilogy bout on points in 2023, failing to regain the 170lb title. Then, in October 2023, he stepped in to face the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev on short notice. In what was Usman's middleweight debut, he performed admirably but lost via decision. Usman, 38, returned to welterweight to face the in-form Buckley on Saturday (14 June), where he defied his doubters with an impressive performance, which gave way to an emotional post-fight interview. Advertisement 'It feels good,' he said in the cage. 'It's been a while, I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I'm still able to do this at the highest level. Sometimes when you're going up against a young, hungry guy like that – very talented, very aggressive – you've got to pull out the skills and use the experience. Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (Getty Images) 'That's what I did tonight. I expected him to be really, really tough, which he was. I know what it takes to work and get up in here. Thank you to him for bringing everything that he brought. 'I know it's a running joke, everybody wants to get on the internet and talk s***: 'Oh, his knees, his knees [are done]!' Well, shut the f*** up. I can still do what I do. The rest of the welterweight division, listen: I have been and always will be the f*****g boogeyman.' Advertisement 'I can do that to anybody, any one of them. Those knockouts will come, I just needed this monkey off my back. Next one, whoever it is for that title, I'll see about you.' An emotional Usman also referenced his daughter's absence from the Fight Night, saying: 'Before I go, I just wanted to say that I have a lot of emotions coming into this one [...] a lot of things that I had to battle back from. I'm holding back all the emotions. 'Unfortunately, my daughter can't be here with me tonight. That's another long story. But man, I just want to say thank you to everybody – thank you to my family, my coaches who kept me going, Buckley for bringing the challenge.' Jaoquin Buckley must go back to the drawing board (Getty) Jack Della Maddalena, the reigning welterweight champion, is due to defend the belt later this year against Islam Makhachev, who recently vacated the lightweight strap. 'JDM' won the belt in May by outpointing Belal Muhammad, who is now calling for a fight with Usman, but the 'Nigerian Nightmare' has insisted he only wants a title shot next.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store