Leon Edwards opponent Jack Della Maddalena shares uncertain thoughts on UFC London fight
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Australia’s Della Maddalena faces the British-Jamaican at the O2 Arena on 22 March. Jack Della Maddalena has admitted he does not know if his fight with Leon Edwards will determine the No 1 contender for the UFC welterweight title. The Australian will face Edwards at UFC London on 22 March, as the latter competes for the first time since losing the title.
![[Jack Della Maddalena (top) during his fight with Gilbert Burns in March]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/23/13/newFile-3.jpg)
In July, Edwards suffered a decision loss to Belal Muhammad in Manchester, with Muhammad expected to defend the gold against Shavkat Rakhmonov next. Edward’s loss to Muhammad marked the end of a 12-fight win streak – barring a 2021 No Contest against Muhammad – that saw the British-Jamaican claim the welterweight belt and retain it twice. Meanwhile, Della Maddalena is on a 17-fight win streak since losing his first two professional bouts. As such, either man would have a decent claim to a title shot next.
![[Della Maddalena stopped Burns with a jumping knee and further strikes]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/23/14/newFile.jpg)
“I think it’s very much performance-based as well, in my opinion; I think if I go in there and have a close split decision over Leon, and someone else has a big performance, they might put them in front of me. I want to go in there and prove a point: prove a point that I can do to Leon what Belal couldn’t do [and finish him].”.
![[Leon Edwards (left) lost a decision – and his title – to Belal Muhammad in July]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/07/28/17/newFile-1.jpg)
Muhammad won a unanimous decision against Edwards, 33, as the new champion extended his win streak to 10, although he has been criticised for only finishing two opponents in that run. The Palestinian-American was due to defend the title against Rakhmonov in December, but a foot infection forced Muhammad out of that fight on short notice.
