UFC welterweight title challenger Jack Della Maddalena sees similarities between reigning champion Belal Muhammad and legend Georges St-Pierre's approach to fighting.
Della Maddalena has received a surprise opportunity this year owing to an injury to original top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.
As a result, the Australian was pulled from his scheduled London main event against Leon Edwards and thrust into a title clash with Muhammad at UFC 315 in Canada next month.
With his preparation ongoing, Della Maddalena has been analysing the man he'll need to beat to bring UFC gold back Down Under. And like plenty of the champ's detractors, he had one word in mine during a recent interview on Fox Sports Australia's mainevent — "boring."
It's no question he's got a boring fight style," Della Maddalena said of Belal Muhammad. "He's good at holding people down and getting victories. GSP (Georges St-Pierre) got flak back in the day for being a boring style. I definitely think it's a boring style, but winning is obviously his number one goal, and fair play to him. But I feel like I can beat him.
Muhammad has aspirations of reaching and surpassing the legacy of the great St-Pierre, who achieved title glory in two divisions and cemented his place in the GOAT debate despite a fight style widely branded less than entertaining.