Prediction: Belal Muhammad inside the distance
Jack Della Maddalena is a sniper. His shot selection is among the cleanest in the entire division. He doesn’t throw just to throw—every punch has purpose, often designed to either hurt you or set up the kill shot. His timing, ability to read reactions, and the way he mixes up his targets (especially that body-head combination work) make him one of the most dangerous offensive fighters at 170. He rarely wastes energy, and when he smells blood, his finishing instinct is deadly. But that style works best when he can manage distance and make his opponents play his game.
Belal Muhammad simply doesn’t allow you to play your game.
Belal’s biggest weapons aren’t flashy—they’re volume, durability, pressure, and will. He doesn’t just shoot one takedown and hope it sticks—he chains them together, and if you get up, he’s on your hips again. He wears opponents down, not just physically but mentally. And most importantly, he knows exactly how to win rounds. His ability to push pace while staying defensively sound is elite. He’s not looking for the highlight reel; he’s looking to outwork you, out-position you, and make you carry his weight for 25 minutes if needed.
The key difference in this matchup is how they respond when the fight doesn’t go their way early. Belal doesn’t need a fast start. He just needs to get his hands on you. And once he does, the rest of the fight is spent trying to survive the grind. Jack, for all his technical brilliance, has shown vulnerability when opponents can close the distance and get their hands on him. He can be taken down. He can be controlled. And while he’s not helpless off his back, he hasn’t shown much urgency to scramble or a particularly deep defensive grappling arsenal. Against someone like Belal, who makes every transition miserable and doesn’t let you rest, that’s a massive concern.
Even in the striking realm, Belal doesn’t make it easy. He’s awkward, unorthodox, and throws enough to keep you honest. He won’t win a clean kickboxing match with Jack, but he doesn’t need to. He only needs to strike long enough to shoot, close the gap, and start grinding. And with his cardio, he can keep that blueprint running at full speed for five rounds.
This isn’t about who looks more dangerous—on tape, Jack absolutely pops more. But in a 25-minute fight, the guy who can dictate where the fight takes place and break rhythm almost always has the edge. That’s Belal. He may get clipped early, but he’s shown durability. He may not look pretty doing it, but he’s shown consistency. And when you give him enough time, he drowns you.