Complaints about this weekend’s UFC card abound, for the price tag of tickets as much as for the quality of the lineup. I won’t get too deeply into the political complaints that this event can elicit, but to name a few outside of those related to Canada's recent election: first, you’ve got Joe Rogan, who refuses to go to Canada to work UFC events on principle (specifically the principle of free speech). Then you’ve got Belal Muhammad, who was born in Chicago but takes every possible opportunity to remind Dana White and everyone else who gives him the time of day that he stands with Palestine. 

I just want to see the fighters fight, but with a last-minute dropout in the matchup between Saint-Denis and Alvarez, this Main Card in Montreal is an especially lean one. If you're a die-hard fan of Jose Aldo and Valentina Shevchenko’s post-fight folk dancing hasn’t gotten old for you, you’ve got at least two things to look forward to this weekend. As for the rest? Here’s the least you should know. 

This is Muhammad’s (24-3-0) first fight back after an infected toe kept him out of the Octagon for a matchup against Shavkat Rakhmonov in December. This will be Belal’s first defense since seizing the Welterweight belt from Leon Edwards in a gritty upset last July.

Della Maddalena (17-2-0) is undefeated since he debuted in the UFC in 2022, but he’s definitely the underdog in this fight. Jack’s unlikely to outlast Belal’s wrestling unless he gets a mean strike into the mix—if he does, he’d be doing the crowd a favor: snoozer wins by decision are par for the course with Muhammad. 

By now, fans can only hope Della Maddalena can still throw hands after the gruesome bone infection and series of arm surgeries following his last appearance at UFC 299. If not hands, knees wouldn’t hurt:  Della Maddalena’s opportunistic knee ended his last fight against Gilbert Burns in Round 3, and if Jack capitalizes on one of Muhammad’s takedowns just so, this could work for him again.  

👊🏻Belal “Remember the Name” Muhammad Key Stats:

4.39 Sig. Strikes Landed/minute

3.48 Sig. Strikes Absorbed/minute

57% Sig. Strike Defense

89% TDD

39% TD Accuracy

👊🏻Jack Della Maddalena Key Stats:

6.74 Sig. Strikes Landed/minute

4.27 Sig. Strikes Absorbed/minute

66% Sig. Strike Defense

70% TDD

16% TD Accuracy

Vegas Odds: Muhammad (-245), Della Maddalena (+200)

One Man’s pick - Muhammad by UD

Shevchenko (24–4-1) and Fiorot (12-1-0) have been going at it with threats of “you lose, you retire.”  

Fiorot has been due to get her shot at “Bullet” for the last three years. Now that the UFC darling’s long-dragging trilogy of fights with Grasso is over, the dames can battle it out for dominance at 125. 

At her best, “The Beast” puts her most heavy-handed, most aggressive striking on display and fires with full power at “Bullet.” At her worst, she eats one too many head kicks and gets outpaced by Shevchenko.

This is a big moment for Fiorot if she can pull it off. Valentina’s biggest moment might still be ahead of her should she turn persistent rumors of fighting Zhang Weili into reality after this fight. 

👊🏻Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko Key Stats:

3.16 Sig. Strikes Landed/minute

2.00 Sig. Strikes Absorbed/minute

64% Sig. Strike Defense

71% TDD

64% TD Accuracy

👊🏻Manon “The Beast” Fiorot Key Stats:

4.62 Sig. Strikes Landed/minute

3.20 Sig. Strikes Absorbed/minute

50% Sig. Strike Defense

61% TDD

41% TD Accuracy

Vegas Odds: Shevchenko (+130), Fiorot (-155)
One Man’s pick - Shevchenko by UD

Any fight could be the last for “The King of Rio”, but José Aldo (23-9-0) claims he still has his sights set on the Bantamweight title. 

The younger brother of famed Tristar owner and head coach, Firas Zahabi, Aiemann comes into this fight needing all the hometown advantage he can get.

Georges St.-Pierre, who will be cornering Zahabi (12-2-0), said to not put Aldo on a pedestal, but that’s easier said than done against a legend who’s had a full second career in a different weight class in the time since GSP retired 

These guys are 38 and 37, respectively. No spring chickens in this fight, and Zahabi has the most to gain from the win. 

👊🏻José Aldo Key Stats:

3.62 Sig. Strikes Landed/minute

3.72 Sig. Strikes Absorbed/minute

61% Sig. Strike Defense

93% TDD

54% TD Accuracy

👊🏻Aiemann Zahabi Key Stats:

4.06 Sig. Strikes Landed/minute

4.06 Sig. Strikes Absorbed/minute

71% Sig. Strike Defense

83% TDD

14% TD Accuracy

Vegas Odds: Aldo (-238), Zahabi (+195)
One Man’s pick - Aldo by SD. he’s just too crafty and Zahabi has never really shown a high ceiling.

It’s a pleasure to see Alexa Grasso (16-4-1) freed to fight someone other than Valentina Shevchenko. We haven’t seen her face a different fighter in three years. 

Natalia Silva (18-5-1) is a refreshing bout for Grasso: an up-and-comer, on the cusp of her third anniversary since her UFC debut in 2022 with her most recent Fight of the Night win against former champ, Jessica Andrade. She’s got elite striking and she’s got a tremendous career opportunity in this head-to-head against the former Flyweight champ. 

👊🏻Alexa Grasso Key Stats:

4.19 Sig. Strikes Landed/minute

3.69 Sig. Strikes Absorbed/minute

58% Sig. Strike Defense

55% TDD

40% TD Accuracy

👊🏻Natalia Silva Key Stats:

5.19 Sig. Strikes Landed/minute

2.35 Sig. Strikes Absorbed/minute

65% Sig. Strike Defense

92% TDD

25% TD Accuracy

Vegas Odds: Grasso (+164), Silva (-198)
One Man’s pick - Grasso by UD