MMA News

Tag: Belal Muhammad

  • Belal Muhammad Reminds Dana White Of ‘Free Speech’ Claim Amid Flag Controversy

    Belal Muhammad Reminds Dana White Of ‘Free Speech’ Claim Amid Flag Controversy

    Belal Muhammad is calling on Dana White to step in and fix an issue with his profile on the official UFC website.

    Although hailing from Chicago, Muhammad has never shied away from his Palestinian roots. He has proudly showcased his identity throughout his UFC career, whether by proudly displaying the Palestinian flag in victory or using his platform to be a vocal advocate for the Palestinian people on social media.

    On the UFC’s official website, fighters customarily have their national flags displayed beside their names. However, recently, “Remember the Name” was notably left without one. This omission did not go unnoticed, drawing criticism from fans online and fueling speculation about the reason behind the blank space.

    On Thursday, the reigning UFC welterweight champion took to X, urging White to uphold the very free speech he often advocates. Muhammad also pressed the UFC CEO to acknowledge and resolve the issue regarding his missing flag.

    “People keep asking me, ‘Where’s your flag?’ I kept getting multiple messages from it, and I was assuming it was a mistake, but it’s still not addressed,” Muhammad said. “So I’ll address it and hope that Dana addresses it as well and fixes it, because Dana said he’s all about free speech. He’s all about people supporting who they want to support and not muting or silencing anybody. I’m hoping that the UFC fixes this issue and puts my flag next to my name so the people that I represent, the people that I fight for, and the people that I train for, will see their flag.”

    Belal Muhammad is set to put his 170-pound title on the line for the first time when he squares off against Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 315, scheduled for May 10 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

    The 36-year-old American last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 304 in July, where he dethroned Leon Edwards to claim the welterweight title via unanimous decision.

  • Belal Muhammad Laughs Off Leon Edwards’ Plans For UFC Title Fight In 2025: ‘Someone Tell Him…’ 

    Belal Muhammad Laughs Off Leon Edwards’ Plans For UFC Title Fight In 2025: ‘Someone Tell Him…’ 

    Leon Edwards has his sights set on a shot at redemption against Belal Muhammad before year’s end. To that, however, the UFC welterweight champion has told his rival not to hold his breath.

    Edwards’ reign as kingpin at 170 pounds came to an end last July when he headlined the UFC 304 pay-per-view on home soil in Manchester, England.

    Following successful defenses opposite Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, “Rocky” was looking to continue his pursuit of Georges St-Pierre’s divisional records at the expense of a former adversary in Muhammad.

    But while the Jamaica-born Brit largely got the better of exchanges in their first fight before it came to a premature end due to an eye poke, the same can’t be said for their rematch, which was largely dominated by the challenger.

    In the aftermath, Edwards put the blame on the early morning fight time and has vowed to reclaim the gold by the end of 2025. His journey toward accomplishing that starts with a London main event opposite Sean Brady on March 22.

    But although the former champ expects a victory to net him a shot at the belt, Muhammad has laughed off any suggestion of a trilogy fight coming to fruition anytime soon.

    “(laughing) someone tell him he got three long years ahead of him,” Muhammad wrote on X.

    Muhammad’s comments mark a turn of the tables of sorts, with the reigning champ long accusing Edwards of avoiding their rematch following the no contest at the Apex back in 2021.

    “Remember the Name” waited three years before being given his first opportunity at the title, one which he ultimately made the most of across the pond last year.

  • WATCH: UFC 315 On-Sale Press Conference For Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena, Shevchenko vs. Fiorot

    WATCH: UFC 315 On-Sale Press Conference For Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena, Shevchenko vs. Fiorot

    The top fighters confirmed to be in action at UFC 315 on May 10 will take to the stage for an on-sale press conference in the event’s host city this week.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will return to Canada later this year for the first time in 2025. After trips to Toronto and Edmonton last year, the promotion’s latest trip to “The Great White North” will see Octagon action go down in Montréal.

    The main event will see UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad make his first defense of the title. After an injury to Shavkat Rakhmonov, “Remember the Name” will face the challenge of Australian striker Jack Della Maddalena.

    There will also be championship stakes in the co-headliner, with Valentina Shevchenko returning for the first defense of her second reign, which got underway with redemption against Alexa Grasso last September. If she’s to remain on the throne, “Bullet” will have to become the first woman to defeat France’s Manon Fiorot in the UFC.

    With Fight Club Pre-Sale starting on Wednesday, the promotion is hosting a press conference in Montréal, where Muhammad, Della Maddalena, Shevchenko and Fiorot will all have mics in hand.

    See below for a live stream of the presser via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 11:30 AM ET.

    UFC 315 On-Sale Press Conference Live Stream

  • Jack Della Maddalena Pulled From UFC London, Challenges Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad At UFC 315

    Jack Della Maddalena Pulled From UFC London, Challenges Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad At UFC 315

    A new main event is set to go down in London next month after Jack Della Maddalena was announced as the next challenger to UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad’s reign.

    Della Maddalena was originally set to headline on March 22 in England’s capital in a likely title eliminator opposite Leon Edwards. But among a slew of announcements Thursday night, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the Australian has been replaced by Sean Brady.

    Rather than injury or travel issues causing the chance, Della Maddalena has found himself with an unexpected opportunity to capture gold next time out.

    The striking specialist will headline UFC 315 in Montreal on May 10 in competition for Muhammad’s title due to an injury to number one contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    “Nomad” has now seen two planned championship chances slip away. He was originally set to compete for the gold last December before a bone infection forced Muhammad out on late notice. He subsequently beat Ian Garry to further cement his claim to the next shot.

    The Kazakh fighter will now be waiting in the wings to face the winner, as Della Maddalena looks to ride his undefeated UFC record all the way to the top in the “Great White North.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis On Potential Belal Muhammad Fight: ‘I Step On His Head And It’s Over’

    Dricus Du Plessis On Potential Belal Muhammad Fight: ‘I Step On His Head And It’s Over’

    Dricus Du Plessis has responded to Belal Muhammad’s recent criticism of the middleweight division, dismissing the comments and taking jabs at the UFC welterweight champion.

    Muhammad recently downplayed the strength of the 185-pound weight class, calling it the easiest (aside from Khamzat Chimaev) and citing the UFC 312 main event as evidence.

    In an interview with The Ariel Helwani Show, Du Plessis didn’t hold back in his response.

    “Belal Muhammad, I can’t even remember the way he fights, I don’t know,” Du Plessis said. “Has he ever finished anyone? … I mean, I like how he acts as if he has a choice to ever go up to 185. The UFC will never let him. If he wanted to, he’d have to abandon his belt, give up his belt, vacate, and go up to 185, and there’s no way they give him a direct title shot. There’s no way. The UFC doesn’t even like Belal Muhammad. He hasn’t even defended his belt once. He’s definitely better on Twitter than he is when he fights; let’s just say that.”

    While Du Plessis and Muhammad have dismissed the idea of fighting each other, both are on impressive career runs. Du Plessis defended his middleweight title for the second time, defeating Sean Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312, extending his UFC record to 9-0. Meanwhile, Muhammad boasts an 11-fight unbeaten streak since 2019, culminating in a dominant title-winning performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304 this past July.

    While a champion-vs-champion bout would undoubtedly be a significant draw, Du Plessis believes such a matchup would be one-sided.

    “No, that would be unfair,” Du Plessis said. “If I fight Belal Muhammad, it would be unfair. One hundred percent. Have you seen the size of the man? What is he going to do? Is he going to get somebody to help him? Is he going to sit on somebody’s neck? How is it going to work? I couldn’t believe that he fights at 170 when I saw him.”

    When asked how the fight would go, Du Plessis didn’t mince words.

    “I step on his head, and it’s over,” he said.

    Belal Muhammad Responds to Dricus Du Plessis

    Du Plessis’ comments quickly spread across social media, prompting a response from Muhammad.

    “He can barely walk without tripping over his own feet,” Muhammad said. “He ain’t touching me.”

    While there’s no real movement toward a potential fight between the two champions, their back and forth has added an extra layer of intrigue to their respective title reigns.

  • Belal Muhammad: Aside From Khamzat Chimaev, Middleweight Division Is The UFC’s Easiest

    Belal Muhammad: Aside From Khamzat Chimaev, Middleweight Division Is The UFC’s Easiest

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad believes his division is significantly more challenging than the middleweight division, which Dricus Du Plessis currently rules.

    Those are strong words from Muhammad, who has yet to defend his title. He was initially set to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Rakhmonov defeated Ian Garry and is expected to challenge for the welterweight title later this year.

    In a recent interview with Barstool Chicago, Muhammad was asked about possibly fighting his occasional training partner, UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev. “Remember the Name” reiterated that he has no interest in fighting Makhachev, a stance he has previously made clear.

    Instead, he has a broader goal — potentially moving up in weight and fighting for another championship. That means targeting the middleweight division.

    “For me, I’d rather go to 185 and let [Makhachev] just take 170,” Muhammad said. “Since I’ve already had to fight my way up to 170 — I’ve beaten five top-10 guys — I’m two fights away from being able to challenge for [the middleweight title] and saying, ‘Hey, I want to be double champ.’

    “I think 185 is probably the easiest weight class — besides Khamzat [Chimaev]. When you look at that [UFC 312] main event, you’re like, ‘Bro, Strickland and Du Plessis suck.’”

  • Belal Muhammad Predicts ‘Worst-Case Scenario’ For Shavkat Rakhmonov In UFC Title Fight: ‘I See Holes…’

    Belal Muhammad Predicts ‘Worst-Case Scenario’ For Shavkat Rakhmonov In UFC Title Fight: ‘I See Holes…’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad is confident in his ability to break Shavkat Rakhmonov mentally when they face off.

    Muhammad, who claimed the title by dominating Leon Edwards at UFC 304, is expected to defend it against the undefeated Rakhmonov. This matchup comes after the Kazakh secured a five-round decision victory over Ian Garry at UFC 310 — a fight that originally had “Remember the Name” slated to compete in before he withdrew due to a foot infection.

    While the champ acknowledges Rakhmonov as a formidable challenge, he believes he has the ability to push him to his limits and ultimately prevail.

    “When you’re fighting a guy like Shavkat, where they put him on this pedestal as this undefeated crazy guy, I see holes in his game the same way I saw holes in Leon’s game,” Muhammad said in an interview with Barstool Sports Chicago. “I think Leon’s a better striker than Shavkat, but mentally, I think Shavkat’s a lot stronger. I don’t see him breaking mentally.

    “The biggest thing for him is, now you’re fighting a guy that’s not afraid of you. Everybody he fights comes in there with nerves and fear: ‘Oh, he’s crazy. He’s a robot. He’s this, this and that.’ A lot of guys just fold because of that fear.

    “For me, I’m going to be in his face the whole time, and it’s going to be the same resolve — another guy breaking. A lot of guys like him, when you’ve never felt that, where a guy is not afraid of you, or a guy is still with you this whole time for five rounds, pushing a different pace that you’ve never seen before — and you’re supposed to be the undefeated guy — you’ve never had to experience that before. It’s going to be the worst-case scenario for him.”

  • Belal Muhammad Breaks Down How Dricus Du Plessis Fight Would Play Out: ‘Then I Put Him To Sleep…’

    Belal Muhammad Breaks Down How Dricus Du Plessis Fight Would Play Out: ‘Then I Put Him To Sleep…’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad continues to step up talk of a push for two-division title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Muhammad was quick to raise the topic of adding middleweight gold to his collection in the aftermath of the latest 185-pound title fight — a lopsided decision victory for Dricus Du Plessis over challenger Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 312.

    While the South African followed up his submission of Israel Adesanya with a dominant display this past weekend in Sydney, “Remember the Name” evidently wasn’t too impressed, claiming that his crowning up a weight class would be comfortable.

    And the 170-pound kingpin reiterated that sentiment on X recently by breaking down exactly how he’d defeat Du Plessis inside the Octagon. Should all go to plan for Muhammad, the bout would end with “Stillknocks” rendered unconscious.

    “I’d come out him with a 1-2 then he’d wing an overhand I’ll duck it change levels and take him down then he’d shrimp and get the underhook to get out but he’ll be to weak to get up so then I’ll hit him with ground and pound for the rest of round 1. Round 2 starts and I come out with a flying knee he shells up then I hit him with the zabit back trip then point and laugh at him (this makes him mad) he gets up and charges foward winging punches at me I slide out of the way with ease then hit him with a 1-2 then he gets frustrated shoots for a takedown I defend with ease but now he’s tired and stays on his knees I kick him to the body while he’s on the ground. End of round 2. .. round 3 starts and he’s distraught he can’t hit me he can’t take me down so then he tries spinning stuff I back up at the right time and end up taking his back he lets me under chin out of frustration then I put him to sleep … and new double champ”

    Before having the chance to bring such a scenario to fruition, Muhammad has work to do in his current division.

    “Remember the Name” is yet to defend the belt since wrestling it away from Leon Edwards in Manchester last July. That’s courtesy of a bone infection that canceled his planned showdown with undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov two months ago.

    While Muhammad likely prepares for a second shot at stalling “Nomad’s” championship aspirations, Du Plessis is also expected to face an undefeated challenger next in the form of Khamzat Chimaev.

  • Jack Della Maddalena Disagrees With Leon Edwards Using Timing As Excuse For Belal Muhammad Loss

    Jack Della Maddalena Disagrees With Leon Edwards Using Timing As Excuse For Belal Muhammad Loss

    Jack Della Maddalena disagrees with Leon Edwards’ claim that the unusual fight time at UFC 304 affected his performance against Belal Muhammad last July.

    Edwards, who lost his welterweight title to Muhammad that night, attributed his fatigue and sluggishness to the late-night start time, which was scheduled to accommodate U.S. pay-per-view audiences. However, Della Maddalena believes that excuse takes credit away from Muhammad’s victory.

    “In my opinion, I feel like Leon has always fought like that, so just to blame the timing, I don’t think, is fair on Belal’s part,” Della Maddalena told The Mac Life. “I think Leon has shown that he’s happy sort of not doing too much, using his precise striking just to sit back, and I think Belal pulled off the perfect game plan — just to push the pace, grab a hold of him, make it a bit more ugly.”

    Della Maddalena is set to face Edwards on March 22 in the UFC Fight Night London main event at The O2. As he prepares for the matchup, he plans to employ a similarly aggressive strategy to what Muhammad used.

    “That would be my plan: Put him up against the cage, build upon a pace, keep pushing the pace, and try to make it ugly,” Della Maddalena said. “I think it’s a good game plan for me, and I’m going to go in there and use the blueprint to try and do what Belal did. I’m not going to try and grab ahold of Leon. I’m just going to be trying to get in the pocket, land big shots, and try to beat him down.”

  • Leon Edwards Names Belal Muhammad The ‘Worst Fighter Of All Time’, Targets Rematch In ‘Normal Time’

    Leon Edwards Names Belal Muhammad The ‘Worst Fighter Of All Time’, Targets Rematch In ‘Normal Time’

    Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards’ disdain for Belal Muhammad hasn’t appeared to dissipate in the months on from their title showdown in Manchester.

    Edwards and Muhammad ran their rivalry back last July in England, sharing the Octagon again three years on from a UFC Fight Night headliner at the Apex that ended in a disappointing no contest.

    With animosity from that clash continuing to build, there was certainly no love lost between the pair when “Remember the Name” challenged for “Rocky’s” 170-pound gold at UFC 304 inside the Co-op Live.

    Courtesy of a dominant performance across five rounds, Muhammad ultimately had the last laugh — at least for now.

    The Jamaica-born Brit has repeatedly expressed his desire to exact revenge on Muhammad, and he expects to earn the chance to do so by defeating Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC Fight Night London main event next month.

    Despite how their second bout unfolded, Edwards still doesn’t have much respect for the champ’s skillset, believing he’ll make a quick return to the throne.

    During an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Edwards was asked the old-age question of who he perceives to be the greatest fighter. This time, however, the topic also strayed to the worst, providing “Rocky” with the chance to take a jab at his arch-nemisis.

    “For me, I would say Jon Jones,” Edwards said when discussing the best fighter of all time. “My second best is Anderson Silva.

    “(Worst?) Belal… I’d love to run it back,” Edwards continued. “Normal time. I’d love to run it back again (in 2025).”

    Edwards has continued to put his decision loss in July 2024 down to the unusual fight timings, which saw him defending his title on home soil at gone 5 a.m. local time.

    “Rocky” will look to prove that as the key factor in last year’s result by working his way back to the top and levelling the score with Muhammad in their ongoing feud.

    For the time being, Edwards will need to have full focus on the dangerous Della Maddalena. Muhammad, meanwhile, is expected to figure in a rearranged showdown with Shavkat Rakhmonov for his delayed first title defense.

  • Islam Makhachev Teases Change Of Stance On Fighting ‘Friend’ Belal Muhammad: ‘We Will See How The (Rakhmonov) Fight Goes…’

    Islam Makhachev Teases Change Of Stance On Fighting ‘Friend’ Belal Muhammad: ‘We Will See How The (Rakhmonov) Fight Goes…’

    Islam Makhachev has made it very clear in recent times that his goal is to become a two-weight world champion by moving up to welterweight. He’s already tied for the second longest win streak in UFC history, meaning that isn’t exactly a whole queue of new and exciting opponents for him to face at lightweight.

    It would be a shame if we don’t get to see the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the sport today get the opportunity to really test himself and in some ways, now might be the right time to pull the trigger. However, there is one issue with that plan.

    Belal Muhammad has previously spent time training with Makhachev and the rest of their team before he won the 170-pound title at UFC 304 in July last year. Even if they both agreed to face each other, Muhammad already has his next title challenger lined up after Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Ian Garry at UFC 310 when the champion withdrew due to an injury.

    In the following video, originally posted by Ushatayka, the 155-pound king talks about the options for his next fight where he suggests that two-weight supremacy will be his next challenge.

    “I don’t see a lot of work to do in my division, I beat almost everybody. I think about moving up to 170 and I can stay there.”

    There is, of course, the small matter of his former training partner being the current champion at welterweight but Makhachev has made comments both before and after UFC 311 which suggest that he isn’t against the idea of challenging Muhammad if it means getting his hands on a second belt. He said that whilst he isn’t going to say anything for sure, there are conversations that need to happen in the near future.

    “I don’t want to make any statements, we will see how the fight goes. I have not spoken to the UFC since my last fight, we need to sit and talk these moments.”

  • Belal Muhammad Attempts To Put Kamaru Usman In His Place: ‘You’re Just A Podcaster Now!’

    Belal Muhammad Attempts To Put Kamaru Usman In His Place: ‘You’re Just A Podcaster Now!’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad hasn’t liked the recent remarks coming from the mouth of his division’s former titleholder, Kamaru Usman.

    Usman hasn’t competed since October 2023, sitting out the entirety of 2024 following a narrow decision loss to the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev up at middleweight.

    Prior to that, he suffered consecutive defeats at the hands of Leon Edwards, once to lose the title and then to fail in his attempt at regaining it.

    Nevertheless, “The Nigerian Nightmare” hasn’t lost faith in his ability to still compete at the top, something he plans to prove in his return later this year.

    Though it remains to be seen what opposition that could come against, Usman won’t be short on options. He’s spent recent times berating those in the division who frequently call him out, outlining that he will face whomever once fit and healthy.

    But during a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, Muhammad criticized the tone of those comments with a fiery onslaught, which included him branding Usman a “coward” and “just a podcaster.”

    “It’s so funny when you have a guy like him, right?” Muhammad said. “He’s on a three-fight losing streak, and when these guys are calling him out, he’s acting like — he’s putting himself on this pedestal like he’s still the champion, like they shouldn’t be calling him out. Bro, you’re just a podcaster now. You haven’t fought in over a year, and if you’re not gonna defend your ranking, then leave, quit!

    “I just need Usman to get a win,” Muhammad continued. “Like, he sucks so bad right now, like it’s just embarrassing where I just feel bad for him. Like he goes out there, you obviously have to fight somebody that’s on a streak. I think (Joaquin) Buckley called him out. Buckley’s been killing it at 170 (pounds). He just made Colby (Covington) look like a rookie. I think he goes out there and figures out a way to beat him. I know they offered him JDM (Jack Della Maddalena), but he turned it down because he’s a coward.”

    The pair’s heated exchanges have certainly set the stage nicely for a possible showdown. For the time being, though, that is some way off from coming to fruition.

    Muhammad will first have his sights on Shavkat Rakhmonov. After the cancellation of their planned headliner at UFC 310 last month following an injury to the champ, they’re expected to renew hostilities for the next welterweight title fight.

    Usman, meanwhile, remains at the very least one win over a high-ranked contender away from reinserting himself into the championship conversation.

  • Belal Muhammad Willing To Fight Sean Strickland: ‘He’s Literally The Definition Of Trailer Trash’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad is eyeing a potential clash with Sean Strickland to settle their long-standing feud and hold the middleweight accountable for his controversial remarks.

    The two fighters have exchanged heated words, with Muhammad taking particular issue with Strickland’s openly Islamophobic comments. For “Remember the Name,” these remarks represent a sign of weakness that he is eager to exploit in the Octagon.

    Before any potential bout with Muhammad, Strickland is set to face middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis in a rematch. The fight headlines UFC 312 on February 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

    In a candid interview with Submission Radio, Muhammad didn’t hold back in his assessment of the upcoming challenger in the weight class above him.

    “I hope he loses, and I hope he gets knocked out and put unconscious and doesn’t wake up,” he said. “But regardless, I would always still want to move up and fight him whether he has the belt or not. That will always be a fight I say yes to. It’s personal.

    “The guy’s just an airhead. He’s literally the definition of trailer trash. That’s what he is. So when he says all this dumb stuff, people need to make him pay for it. The Twitter people are happy to see it, and he knows it because he can’t get attention other than saying dumb things.”

    Muhammad went on to compare Strickland’s behavior to that of fellow UFC fighter Colby Covington.

    “He has to say stupid, wild stuff because nobody cares about him without it. It’s kind of like Colby Covington. Nobody cared about him before he started saying dumb stuff. Strickland is trying to level it up even more so he could have that wow factor because his fights suck. He always talks about, ‘I’m going to kill this guy. We’re going to go to war,’ and it’s literally just a teep fest. I think he knows that he sucks, so that’s why he goes out there and he says this dumb stuff.”

    Meanwhile, Muhammad is preparing for his first title defense, which is expected to be against rising star Shavkat Rakhmonov. While the fight has not been officially confirmed, Muhammad’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has hinted that it could take place in May.

  • Kevin Holland Lays Out Scenario Where Belal Muhammad ‘Gets Knocked The F*ck Out’

    Kevin Holland Lays Out Scenario Where Belal Muhammad ‘Gets Knocked The F*ck Out’

    Despite currently competing in a different weight class to Belal Muhammad, Kevin Holland believes he would not only stand a chance against the UFC welterweight champion but could finish him.

    Known for his versatility across multiple divisions under the UFC banner, Holland sees things going favorably in a hypothetical fight with Muhammad compared to middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis.

    Appearing on the Overdogs Podcast, Holland shared his thoughts on how he would fare against both divisional kingpins:

    “Easier fight, I have to say honestly, probably (is) Belal,” he said. “People can say what they want to say about Du Plessis — his style is ugly, his style is this, his style is that. He is a gritty motherf**ker to fight, and it doesn’t matter what you’re doing that night, you’re going to have to deal with that grit.

    “I like grit, so I’m fine with that. Belal, I really honestly believe (if) I shut down the takedown, Belal gets knocked the f*ck out,” he added.

    Holland’s confidence stems from his striking ability and his belief that he could neutralize Muhammad’s grappling-heavy style.

    Since moving up to middleweight, Holland has had mixed results, splitting his last two fights.

    He is set to face former ONE Championship double champion Reinier de Ridder at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 at the Inuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The fight could determine Holland’s trajectory in the middleweight division and whether he can secure a path toward championship contention.

  • Belal Muhammad Mocks Colby Covington After Dominant UFC Tampa Loss: ‘He Just Sucks’

    Belal Muhammad Mocks Colby Covington After Dominant UFC Tampa Loss: ‘He Just Sucks’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was among those roasting the polarizing Colby Covington after his latest defeat.

    Saturday proved to be a difficult night for Covington, as the former interim titleholder returned to action for the first time since a third failed bid at securing the undisputed crown against Leon Edwards last December.

    In his push to reinsert himself into the championship equation, “Chaos” accepted a short-notice UFC Fight Night headliner opposite the charging Joaquin Buckley in Tampa, looking to hand “New Mansa” his first loss since dropping to the division.

    But the controversial veteran convincingly failed in that task, with Buckley putting a beating on him en route to a TKO via doctor’s stoppage in round three.

    While a cut caused the bout’s end, there was little doubt over who was having the better of things. That, unsurprisingly, brought out Covington’s sizable group of enemies and detractors.

    As expected, champ Muhammad was among those enjoying the result…

    “(laughing) man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks,” Muhammad wrote on X.

    Muhammad and Covington have frequently gone back and forth across recent years.

    But with the former on the throne following his win over Edwards this past July and the latter far from challenging for it again post-UFC Tampa, it would appear that the chances of the pair settling their score inside the cage are now slim.

  • Belal Muhammad Hoping Joaquin Buckley Breaks Colby Covington’s Jaw: ‘We’ve Seen It Before…’

    Belal Muhammad Hoping Joaquin Buckley Breaks Colby Covington’s Jaw: ‘We’ve Seen It Before…’

    Belal Muhammad has made it clear that he will be rooting against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event, where “Chaos” is set to face Joaquin Buckley at the Amalie Arena.

    Muhammad and Covington share a long-standing history of animosity, having exchanged verbal jabs for years. Despite the bad blood, the two have never faced off in the Octagon. Now, the reigning welterweight champ hopes Buckley delivers a decisive victory over the ex-interim titleholder.

    “I’m hoping that Buckley breaks his jaw,” Muhammad said. “I hope that Buckley puts him out cold, and I think that Buckley can put him out cold. Colby’s striking is terrible, and his wrestling looked awful in his last fight. I think Buckley is athletic enough to defend those takedowns.”

    Shifting gears, Muhammad provided a detailed analysis of how Buckley could secure a win while highlighting areas where caution will be necessary against the three-time title challenger’s skillset.

    “If Buckley doesn’t get crazy — he throws a lot of wide hooks that leave openings for shots underneath — he just can’t let Colby push him to the fence,” Muhammad explained. “He can’t let Colby keep him on the fence and wear him down. In his last fight against ‘Wonderboy,’ he was getting a little bit tired, but I think that was more because he was offensive wrestling ‘Wonderboy.’ He was taking ‘Wonderboy’ down, ‘Wonderboy’ would get up, he was trying to hold him down, and you don’t really need to hold Colby down.”

    Muhammad emphasized that the primary strategy for “Chaos” would be to rely on takedowns, as he believes the polarizing veteran lacks striking power.

    “Colby can’t strike, and nothing he throws is dangerous,” Muhammad said. “We’ve seen Colby have his jaw broken before by Kamaru (Usman), who isn’t great at striking. So, I think Buckley, who has way more power and way better boxing, can put Colby to sleep.”

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page: UFC 310 Version Of Rakhmonov Would Get ‘Munched’ By Muhammad

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page: UFC 310 Version Of Rakhmonov Would Get ‘Munched’ By Muhammad

    UFC welterweight Michael “Venom” Page believes Shavkat Rakhmonov will have to be a lot better than he was this past weekend if he’s to successfully dethrone Belal Muhammad.

    Rakhmonov successfully defended his top contender status at the UFC 310 pay-per-view on Dec. 7, a date that was originally set to mark his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    The undefeated Kazakh saw his opportunity fall through when an injury ruled Muhammad out, and he was instead tasked with stalling Ian Garry’s hopes of leapfrogging him to the front of the queue.

    He did so on the night but had to overcome plenty of adversity to have his hand raised after five rounds of action inside the T-Mobile Arena.

    The competitive nature of the bout has led many to different conclusions, be it Garry being more elite than some had thought or “Nomad” underperforming.

    During a UFC 310 reaction video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Page fell on the latter side of that.

    The former Bellator standout suggested that the reigning welterweight champ would have enjoyed a comfortable first title defense opposite the iteration of Rakhmonov that made the walk in Las Vegas this past weekend.

    “Shavkat couldn’t get anything. Rakhmonov’s fitness and muscular endurance definitely let him down. His balance seems to be very off. This was definitely, by far, not the best Rakhmonov we’ve seen,” Page said. “Although he’s won it, I think anybody looking at this will look at him like, ‘Yeah, I can beat this guy.’

    “Not saying he’s not dangerous. You can see he’s definitely a dangerous person. But this wasn’t good. This wasn’t his best performance,” Page continued. “A hundred percent now, this Shavkat here, if he had fought Belal, Belal was munching him, yamming him for breakfast.”

    Had things turned out differently in the summer, “MVP” could have been the one sharing the cage with Rakhmonov at this year’s final PPV. The Londoner was narrowly outpointed by the Irishman at UFC 303 in June, moving him to an even 1-1 record since joining the promotion in late 2023.

    While he and Garry looked ahead to their respective opportunities to return to the win column in 2025, Rakhmonov will have his eyes on nothing but Muhammad and the champ’s belt.

  • Daniel Cormier On ‘Weird’ Muhammad-Rakhmonov UFC 310 Faceoff: ‘I Don’t Think It Served The Purpose That You Want’

    Daniel Cormier On ‘Weird’ Muhammad-Rakhmonov UFC 310 Faceoff: ‘I Don’t Think It Served The Purpose That You Want’

    Daniel Cormier has joined many fight fans in critiquing the staredown between UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, describing the moment as underwhelming.

    The faceoff took place after Rakhmonov’s victory over Ian Garry, which positioned him as the next contender for Muhammad’s title. The originally planned headliner between “Remember the Name” and “Nomad” was canceled after the champ withdrew due to a toe infection.

    When Muhammad was finally allowed inside the Octagon for the staredown, the interaction remained respectful, which Cormier felt lacked the intensity needed to hype the fight.

    “I’ve got to be honest. It was weird,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I don’t love faceoffs when you have a translator, especially when Belal, as much as people want to hate him, he’s not a disrespectful guy. So it doesn’t make that moment that you’re looking for when you bring a champion into the ring.”

    Cormier compared the moment to other notable post-fight interactions, highlighting the promotional value that was missing.

    “When (Alexander Volkanovski) came in after (Ilia) Topuria beat Max (Holloway), they shook hands and they left. It was very respectful. But you understood what they were saying. When (Sean) O’Malley was in there, and he was about to fight Aljo (Aljamain Sterling) for the belt, Merab (Dvalishvili) takes the jacket, that makes a memory. This tonight, I don’t think it served the purpose that you want, as a promotion, in regards to what you’re going to do to try to build that fight.”

    While the staredown was meant to ignite anticipation for their potential title fight, Cormier believes the lack of drama or significant engagement may have fallen short of its promotional goal.

  • Leon Edwards Becomes Latest To Get A Laugh Out Of Security Not Recognizing Belal Muhammad At UFC 310

    Leon Edwards Becomes Latest To Get A Laugh Out Of Security Not Recognizing Belal Muhammad At UFC 310

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad made an unexpected attempt to enter the Octagon last Saturday night at UFC 310. He intended to confront Shavkat Rakhmonov, who had just defeated Ian Garry and is now positioned as the next contender for the title.

    However, cageside security initially stopped Muhammad, seemingly failing to recognize him and suspecting he might instigate a disturbance. After clarifying the situation, the 170-pound kingpin was eventually allowed into the cage.

    Security measures at UFC events have been heightened due to past incidents involving fighters storming the Octagon and provoking altercations. Addressing the confusion, Muhammad explained his side of the story during an interview with The Schmo:

    “Yeah, I don’t know, they thought I was gonna do. They thought I was pulling a Merab, like hopping over and going crazy or something like that,” Muhammad said. “No, he called me, bro! If someone calls me into the cage, I’m gonna go in there, right? I don’t think (security) heard it, they didn’t realize what was going on — they thought I was going in to attack him. I’m just like, bro, chill.”

    The tension between Muhammad and Rakhmonov dates back to their originally scheduled matchup in the UFC 310 headliner, which was canceled after Muhammad withdrew due to a toe infection.

    Adding to the drama, Leon Edwards responded to the incident on Instagram with a string of crying-laughing emojis under an ESPN post.

    Muhammad’s surge to the welterweight mountaintop came at the expense of Edwards this past July. “Remember the Name” outpointed “Rocky” across five rounds in the UFC 304 main event, staged in Manchester, England.

    Edwards has vowed to bounce back and regain the gold by the end of 2025. For the time being, though, Muhammad looks set to have his hands full with Rakhmonov before potentially pondering a trilogy with the former champ.

  • Belal Muhammad Considered Amputating Infected Toe To Save UFC 310 Main Event

    Belal Muhammad Considered Amputating Infected Toe To Save UFC 310 Main Event

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad pondered drastic measures in a bid to keep his scheduled title defense at the final pay-per-view of 2024 intact.

    Saturday will see Muhammad’s next opponent in 2025 decided, as undefeated contenders Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry do battle in the co-main event of UFC 310 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    For Rakhmonov, the bout will see him attempt to regain his status as number one contender. The Kazakh star had already earned his shot at UFC gold and was set to challenge Muhammad in the Dec. 7 headliner.

    Last month, however, disaster struck when a bone infection to the champ’s toe hospitalized him and forced a change of plans.

    If Muhammad’s frustration at the cancellation wasn’t clear enough, a recent revelation surrounding the lengths he was willing to go to make the walk at UFC 310 should do the trick…

    During an interview with MMA Junkie on the red carpet for the annual World MMA Awards, Muhammad revealed that he enquired about having the infected toe removed to speed up the recovery process.

    “It got to the point where I was like, ‘Bro, what if you got rid of the toe? What do I need to do to get back in there as quickly as possible?’” Muhammad said. “But the way the doctor was saying it, it was like a bone infection. So it wasn’t like people were saying, ‘Oh, you got a broken toe.’ I’m like, bro, if it was a toe? I had a broken toe for over a year.

    “And then that toe got infected because of that, so that went directly into the bone and it was climbing up the foot. So he was like, ‘Bro, you’ll get your foot amputated.’ It ain’t that. So for me it’s like, it was heartbreaking obviously, but just trusting God, trusting God has a plan for me, knowing that everything happens for a reason. And now that I look at it from a bigger picture side, I’m hoping that there’s a reason for it.”

    That ultimately wasn’t a possibility, forcing Muhammad to bite the bullet and put a delay to his first defense of the 170-pound title.

    “Remember the Name” captured champ status with a dominant display against the odds this past July in Manchester, where he comfortably outpointed Leon Edwards across five rounds.

    With many backing Rakhmonov to get past Garry this weekend before unseating Muhammad, the reigning kingpin will look to once again prove his doubters wrong when he returns to full fitness.

  • Kamaru Usman Discusses Fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov On Short Notice At UFC 310: ‘The UFC Knows Who To Call’

    Kamaru Usman Discusses Fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov On Short Notice At UFC 310: ‘The UFC Knows Who To Call’

    Kamaru Usman seems ready to step up on short notice to face Shavkat Rakhmonov and keep the UFC 310 main event intact.

    The headliner for the final UFC pay-per-view event between reigning welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and Rakhmonov was called off last month after “Remember the Name” disclosed he had to pull out due to a bone infection in his foot.

    Since then, “Nomad” has voiced his desire to remain on the card, even campaigning for an interim title showdown, ideally against former longtime champion Usman. Rakhmonov’s manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, confirmed that the UFC is currently in talks and has proposed “The Nigerian Nightmare” as a possible opponent for the matchup.

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman discussed the possibility of stepping in on just a month’s notice to face Rakhmonov at UFC 310. He stated that the UFC would reach out to a fighter primed to challenge the undefeated Kazakhstani, and should the promotion come calling, he would unquestionably accept.

    “I’m still in that gym, you know,” Usman said. “If the UFC is going to call who they think is going to be legit tough enough and man enough to step in there on this crazy enough to step in there on short notice and go out there and possibly shock the world, definitely the UFC knows who to call when that situation happens. And if they do give me a call, I’m going to answer the call. We get a couple of things straight, and if we have to do it, I don’t shy away from any of that.”

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” is no stranger to stepping in on short notice to face undefeated fighters. Usman took on the challenge of fighting Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023 with less than two weeks’ notice, ultimately suffering a majority decision loss.

    Usman is currently enduring the most challenging phase of his career, having lost his 170-pound title to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022. Since then, he has gone 0-2 in his last two Octagon appearances.

  • UFC Vet Pushes Back On Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Interim Talk: ‘Belal Has The F*cking Title’

    UFC Vet Pushes Back On Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Interim Talk: ‘Belal Has The F*cking Title’

    Shavkat Rakhmonov is campaigning for an interim title fight after Belal Muhammad withdrew from their scheduled UFC 310 clash, but a UFC veteran has a contrasting viewpoint.

    Rakhmonov was slated to challenge reigning welterweight champion Muhammad in the headline fight of the final UFC pay-per-view event of 2024, set for Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    However, just last week, “Remember the Name” revealed that he had been forced to withdraw from the bout due to a bone infection in his foot.

    In light of this regrettable circumstance, Rakhmonov recently turned to social media to advocate for an interim title fight, proposing former champion Kamaru Usman as the ideal opponent to rescue the UFC 310 main event.

    While the prospect of an interim title fight has sparked considerable intrigue within a significant portion of the MMA community, Muhammad was quick to dismiss the idea. Having only claimed the welterweight title four months ago, he believes an interim title would be premature — and Matt Brown shares the same sentiment.

    During a recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast (via MMA Fighting), “The Immortal” recognized the necessity of addressing the void created by Muhammad’s absence but firmly expressed that, from his perspective, an interim title is unnecessary at this juncture.

    “I think we all know at least it’s not a title,” Brown said. “Belal has the f**king title. He’ll be back soon. He’s going to fight the winner. This is a title contender match. Great. It’s a great fight. I’m stoked to see the fight. I’m just as stoked to see Shavkat and Usman as I would be for Shavkat and Belal, except it would be for the actual title with Belal.

    “They usually do that because they need to sell the pay-per-view and put a title on it, right? I feel Usman would be selling PPVs. We all know who Usman is. We all want to watch Usman fight. I don’t think putting a title in front of that fight really changes the dynamic of that fight,” Brown continued. “I get why they would do it, and I understand the logic behind it and maybe it makes it a bigger fight, but I don’t see why you can’t keep it five rounds and just say it’s not for the title. … Unfortunately, it kind of diminishes what an interim title is.”

    “Remember the Name” secured the welterweight title with a commanding unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July. Muhammad is now riding an impressive 11-fight unbeaten streak.

    Meanwhile, Rakhmonov is fresh off a second-round submission victory over Stephen Thompson at UFC 296 in December 2023. “Nomad” has yet to taste defeat in his professional career, boasting a flawless 6-0 record inside the Octagon.

  • Former UFC Champ Argues Leon Edwards Should Fight Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘Rematch Against Belal Muhammad…’

    Former UFC Champ Argues Leon Edwards Should Fight Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘Rematch Against Belal Muhammad…’

    UFC 310 no longer boasts two title fights as Belal Muhammad has pulled out of the main event because of a toe injury. While some fans want the newly crowned champion to be stripped for inactivity already, others are more concerned with finding a new opponent for Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    Several contenders in the UFC welterweight division could benefit by stepping in and winning on UFC 310. Former champs Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman would want to re-enter the title race by beating a top prospect. On the other hand, fresh talents like Ian Garry, Sean Brady, and Jack Della Maddalena should be interested in securing their first title shots.

    While discussing how UFC 310 should be dealt with, Michael Bisping pointed out that replacing Muhammad could help Edwards get his rematch quickly. “Rocky” gave the new champ his props after losing the welterweight belt at UFC 304 but also admitted to feeling fatigued due to the unusual timing.

    Here’s why Bisping expects Edwards to take a risk by fighting Rakhmonov at UFC 310:

    “For Leon Edwards, this does everything. You beat Shavkat Rakhmonov, you are the man. You step up, you are the man. You beat this man that’s finishing everybody. What does that do for you? Well, then you’re right back in the title conversation. In fact, you will be probably getting a rematch against Belal Muhammad.” He continued, “He wants to get his hands on Belal Muhammad once again. He wants to right the wrongs, he wants to prove to the world and himself that he’s the better man. But more importantly, to get back to becoming the welterweight champion of the world.”

    Edwards holds two wins over Usman, and “The Count” claims beating an intimidating opponent with a 100% finish rate would be another feather in his cap. Additionally, a rematch with Muhammad in the United States would ensure he gets a chance to avenge his loss and fight at a more favorable time.

    The former UFC champ understands that losing to “Nomad” is a huge risk for the English fighter as it would further extend his path back to the title. However, he thinks that the rewards outweigh the risks in this situation.

    Bisping lastly called UFC 310 a great card regardless of the main event falling out. Like countless other fans, though, wouldn’t mind seeing the undefeated Rakhmonov put to the test again.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Doubts Belal Muhammad Had To Withdraw From UFC 310: ‘I Think He Was Able’ 

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Doubts Belal Muhammad Had To Withdraw From UFC 310: ‘I Think He Was Able’ 

    Top UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov believes champion Belal Muhammad could have made their planned fight date if he really wanted to.

    Rakhmonov entered November with a first shot at title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the calendar. The undefeated “Nomad” was booked in as the first challenger in the reign of Muhammad, which got underway with a dominant display opposite Leon Edwards this past July.

    But their UFC 310 main event is no more following an injury to the champ, who revealed this past weekend that he had been hospitalized with a gruesome bone infection that will prevent him from training for the next six weeks.

    With that, the Dec. 7 headline spot is in limbo, as is Rakhmonov’s place on the lineup for the promotion’s final pay-per-view of the year.

    But the Kazakh contender evidently doesn’t believe this difficult scenario had to come to fruition.

    During Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Rakhmonov addressed the current situation, questioning if Muhammad really did have to withdraw.

    “I think he was able to fight on Dec. 7, but he wasn’t sure and is being extra careful,” Rakhmonov said. “I was just envisioning myself getting the win and it doesn’t matter how or which way. Belal is a good opponent, but I believe I can work with him in any field. I can counter him, I can pressure him, I just only see my (hand) getting raised in a fight against him.

    “I don’t believe it’s going to be six weeks (to recover), to be honest. I believe Jack Della (had) the same problem with infection and he’s still not back. It can take a while,” Rakhmonov continued. “Belal doesn’t need to be greedy. If I become interim champ, he’s still going to have a belt too.”

    Nevertheless, should he capture an interim title in Muhammad’s absence, Rakhmonov believes that will only make his eventual showdown with “Remember the Name” even bigger in 2025.

    “It’s good for Belal, too. It’s only going to make the fight bigger,” Rakhmonov stated. “Champ vs. champ whenever Belal is ready. Obviously, after I secure the interim title, I’m going to fight him. First quarter of next year I believe is already scheduled and taken so he cannot come back soon, anyway.”

    “Nomad” appeared more sympathetic toward his division’s champ soon after news of his injury emerged, taking to social media to wish Muhammad well in his recovery.

    The Kazakh fighter can likely now expect some backlash from Muhammad after questioning the serious nature of his bone infection.

  • Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event

    Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event

    The UFC has reportedly turned to a familiar face in Alex Pereira after losing its headline attraction for the final pay-per-view event of the year.

    Reports emerged on Thursday regarding a potential injury suffered by UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, who was booked to headline UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 in defense of his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    “Remember the Name” subsequently confirmed the disappointing news on social media, posting an image of a gruesome bone infection that hospitalized him and will keep him out of training for the next six weeks.

    With that, the promotion will need to secure a new headline matchup to close out its PPV schedule for 2024. And when it comes to saviors, no one has fit the description in 2024 quite like “Poatan.”

    Pereira, a former UFC middleweight champion and the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has had a bumper year inside the Octagon, reeling off three straight title defenses in record-breaking speed to establish himself as one of the sport’s biggest stars.

    The manner of his first two defenses only added to the plaudits thrown his way, with Pereira saving the promotion after a struggle to secure a suitable UFC 300 main event and the withdrawal of Conor McGregor from UFC 303 less than three months later.

    Having added the name of Khalil Rountree to his reign’s list of victims at UFC 307 earlier this month, it appeared that Pereira would finally be due a long-earned rest.

    While that still might be the case, MMA Mania is reporting that “Poatan” has indeed been contacted about headlining UFC 310 against Magomed Ankalaev in light of Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov being off.

    The welterweight number one contender seemingly has something to say about that, however. After wishing his injured opponent well on X, “Nomad” called to remain on the UFC 310 card in competition for an interim welterweight strap.

    It remains to be seen whether Muhammad will be out for long enough to warrant the creation of another belt. But should no other options come to fruition for the Dec. 7 headline slot, the promotion has previously shown a willingness to add interim belts to the equation in such scenarios.