MONTREAL (AP) 鈥� The verbal gloves are off when it comes to the buildup to UFC 315, with the tension between the U.S. and Canada even spilling into this card.
Even the style of trash talk came up for debate in the headline event between welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and challenger Jack Della Maddalena.
After Maddalena said it was time for Muhammad to retire, the champ countered that his Australian opponent isn't 鈥渞eally good at trash talk.鈥�
鈥淚 just can鈥檛 wait for him to eat his words and eat these fists,鈥� Muhammad said.
Muhammad (24-3-0 with one no-contest) will put his championship on the line for the first time and is one of two title fights. Kyrgyz-Peruvian champion Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight crown against Manon Fiorot of France in the co-main event.
Muhammad walked into the news conference room with his championship belt, wearing shades and a black basketball jersey with 鈥淏ully鈥� written across the chest 鈥� a nod to his 鈥淏ully B鈥� nickname.
鈥淚 do see myself as a bully,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 bully all these guys in the cage.鈥�
The 36-year-old from Chicago is aiming for his 12th straight win after snatching the welterweight crown off England鈥檚 Leon Edwards at in July.
Doing so in front of Canadian and mixed martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre 鈥� a three-time welterweight champion 鈥� would be a cherry on top.
鈥淗e鈥檚 on everybody鈥檚 Mount Rushmore, a guy that I looked up to,鈥� Muhammad said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檓 trying to chase, right?
鈥淢y first goal was the gold. Now my next goal is the GOAT. So I鈥檓 chasing him, and to be chasing him starting here in Montreal and in front of him is going to be great.鈥�
Della Maddalena (17-2-0), meanwhile, is on a 17-fight win streak 鈥� including seven straight in the UFC 鈥� since dropping his first two bouts as a pro.
A +145 underdog at BetMGM Sportsbook, he faces his stiffest test yet in Muhammad, but the calm-as-can-be 28-year-old doesn鈥檛 expect the winning to stop in Montreal.
鈥淵ou learn a lot from losses. I learned a lot from both those ones, skill-wise and then mentally as well, and just been on a tear ever since,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad to have got the losses behind me and all wins going forward.鈥�
Shevchenko (24-4-1) is facing a new opponent for the first time in two years after three consecutive title bouts against Mexico鈥檚 Alexa Grasso, having in September.
Fiorot (12-1-0) is undefeated in seven UFC fights and trending as the slight -135 favorite to dethrone Shevchenko.
鈥淚t鈥檚 because my past three fights have been total domination compared to her, who鈥檚 had closer and tougher fights,鈥� Fiorot said.
Shevchenko, 37, said she鈥檚 never felt better.
鈥淚f compared myself to like (a) few years ago, I鈥檓 a better version of myself 鈥� faster, stronger, more confident,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel the best shape that I鈥檝e been in my entire career.鈥�
It鈥檚 the UFC鈥檚 eighth event in Montreal and first since 2015. It鈥檚 also the 35th overall in Canada.
Much like the 4 Nations Face-Off, political tensions between Canada and the U.S. could spill over into the arena. Bell Centre also was the site of when nations met at February鈥檚 4 Nations Face-Off.
At least, that鈥檚 how American welterweight Charles Radtke views his bout with Ontario's Mike Malott 鈥� especially amid the widespread booing of 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� at Canadian sports events.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 (care) about hockey. That鈥檚 not my gig,鈥� Radtke said. 鈥淏ut what I do hold dear is I grew up on a bison ranch with my grandfather, who was a sergeant major in the Marine Corps, and when you all boo the national anthem, somebody鈥檚 gonna have to pay for that.鈥�
Radtke has in recent months promoted President Donald Trump鈥檚 鈥�51st State鈥� rhetoric 鈥� the source of many boos during performances of the American national anthem north of the border 鈥� and spent much of his news conference trash-talking Canada.
When asked about his message to the more than 20,000 Canadian fans likely to fill the building with jeers when he steps into the arena, he responded with an expletive.
Mallott said he doesn鈥檛 need to draw extra motivation from Radtke鈥檚 鈥渘oise.鈥�
鈥淚f that鈥檚 where you want to put your energy, go for it,鈥� he said ahead of their preliminary card bout. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not where I鈥檓 putting my energy. I鈥檓 putting my energy into the octagon.
鈥淚t seems like we鈥檙e both really focused on me. That鈥檚 what I think about that. I don鈥檛 care what this guy鈥檚 doing.鈥�
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