MMA News

Tag: Belal Muhammad

  • Belal Muhammad Out Of Shavkat Rakhmonov Title Fight At UFC 310

    Belal Muhammad Out Of Shavkat Rakhmonov Title Fight At UFC 310

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad is reportedly out of his scheduled title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

    Muhammad completed his ascent to the mountaintop at 170 pounds this past July in Manchester, England, where he upset the odds to get the better of Leon Edwards across five rounds in their rematch.

    Eager to be active and face the toughest tests available to him, “Remember the Name” welcomed the challenge of undefeated phenom Rakhmonov. The promotion obliged, booking the pair to headline the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas on Dec. 7.

    On Wednesday, however, rumors began to circulate of a possible cancellation. Australian MMA insider @Bendaman2001 — who broke news of Khamzat Chimaev’s withdrawal from the Saudi Arabia UFC Fight Night this past June — was the first to suggest an issue with the UFC 310 headliner.

    A more definitive report later came from longtime MMA media figure Al Zullino, who noted that the UFC is actively searching for a replacement fight to headline the final numbered card of 2024.

    Should this news be confirmed, it’ll mark a setback in Rakhmonov’s title ambitions. The Kazakh fighter earned his opportunity with a 6-0 run since signing with the UFC back in 2020 off the back of championship success in M-1 Global.

    It remains to be seen whether “Nomad” will remain on the UFC 310 card and face another top contender or patiently await a rescheduled clash with Muhammad in 2025.

    This marks the latest blow to the Dec. 7 event, which already lost a crucial strawweight clash between the highly regarded Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba.

    The lineup does still boast a title fight, though, with flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja set to welcome former Rizin champ Kai Asakura to the UFC in defense of his gold.

  • Belal Muhammad Trashes Ilia Topuria’s Triple Champ Aspirations

    Belal Muhammad Trashes Ilia Topuria’s Triple Champ Aspirations

    Belal Muhammad is showing little regard for Ilia Topuria’s lofty ambitions of becoming the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.

    “El Matador” is set to put his featherweight crown on the line for the very first time this Saturday when he faces Max Holloway at UFC 308 inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

    Despite the formidable challenge that awaits him this weekend, Topuria has already set his sights beyond the fight, boldly asserting his ambition to become a three-division UFC champion by taking on lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev and welterweight champ Muhammad in the coming years.

    While the undefeated Spaniard has mostly maintained a respectful demeanor toward Makhachev, he hasn’t hesitated to go brakes-free on “Remember the Name,” whom he considers “a walk in the park.” Both Topuria and Muhammad have been embroiled in a fierce war of words on social media ever since the American cautioned “El Matador” about his grand aspirations.

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, “Remember the Name” shrugged off Topuria’s challenge, dismissing it as something not to be taken seriously. Muhammad suggested that the featherweight champion is simply calling out other titleholders in a bid to boost his fan appeal rather than presenting a genuine threat.

    “I think that dude’s got Napoleon syndrome or something,” Muhammad said. “Short guys always act like they’re tough… He’s at that mode where I think he’s trying to find himself and he’s trying to show fans that he’s trash talker and he’s this bad guy. He’s not really good at trash talking. When he comes at me, it’s laughable because he’s basically copying words off memes.

    “At the end of the day, we’re not going to fight in the cage so why are you even giving me those words, you’re trying to talk tough because you know nothing’s really going to come of it. He can say ‘I want to go up to 170 and be a triple champ after this’ but you know you’re not. I don’t even think he’s going to get past Holloway. I think he’s going to lose this fight and then we don’t even have to hear his freaking mouse voice.”

    Muhammad secured the 170-pound belt with a unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July. Now, he’s poised for his first title defense against the unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov in the headlining bout of UFC 310, set for December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • Joaquin Buckley Says Only Three Welterweights Ranked Above Him Would Accept A Fight

    Joaquin Buckley Says Only Three Welterweights Ranked Above Him Would Accept A Fight

    With a five-fight win streak since returning to the welterweight division, Joaquin Buckley now finds himself ranked inside the top 10 at 170-pounds. His latest win was also his biggest, stopping Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC 307 to climb to the #9-spot.

    Now, Buckley is looking for another opponent that can put him into the title picture after beating the likes of Thompson, Nursulton Ruziboev and Vicente Luque. The issue he’s encountering is that many of the big names ahead of him are not interested in taking the fight.

    In order for Buckley to get within reach of a title shot, he will need another big name on his resume but that’s not possible if he can’t make this line up for him. In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Buckley was asked who he thinks would accept a fight with him that’s currently above him in the rankings.

    He struggled to think of too many examples, picking out three names in the end with one of them being the current champion.

    “Accept a fight? That’s a hard one. I believe the ones that are true fighters and true martial artists who would love to step into the cage with me are JDM (Jack Della Maddalena), is one of them… Damn, that’s kinda crazy, when I really start to think about it. Ian Garry probably… Belal Muhammad, that’s it bro. That’s it. When you talk about really wanna step in the cage with me, I don’t think there’s a lot of dudes that went to step in there with me.”

    Buckley then proceeded to list several names that he doesn’t think would agree to fight him, including Kamaru Usman who he called out after his most recent win.

    “Gilbert don’t want to step in there with me, Leon Edwards wouldn’t want to step in there with me, Colby Covington wouldn’t want to step in there with me. We see Usman didn’t want that work. Sean Brady blocked me from Instagram so he definitely don’t want to get the work. There’s not a lot of guys that’s willing to step in that cage with me, I’ll tell you that.”

  • Belal Muhammad Targeting ‘Alex Pereira Schedule’ In 2025: ‘I Love To Fight’

    Belal Muhammad Targeting ‘Alex Pereira Schedule’ In 2025: ‘I Love To Fight’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad wants to be active — just as much as record-breaker Alex Pereira.

    Muhammad has fought once in the past 17 months, but that inactivity is not down to his doing. After defeating Gilbert Burns on short notice in May 2023, “Remember the Name” banked his long-awaited first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage.

    Unfortunately for him, he had to wait for then-champion Leon Edwards to settle his business with Colby Covington before cashing in on his opportunity at UFC 304 in Manchester, England this past July.

    Despite a lengthy break from competition, Muhammad looked at his best inside the Co-op Live, dominating Edwards across five rounds to extend his unbeaten run to 11 and capture the 170-pound crown.

    The new kingpin will now return five months later to put his gold on the line for the first time at UFC 310 this December, headlining the pay-per-view event opposite the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    Muhammad outlined his plans for the new year should he get past the threat posed by “Nomad” during a recent interview with John Morgan for Grind City Media.

    While he’ll make the walk on Dec. 7 as the underdog, “Remember the Name” is no stranger to upsetting the odds. And he fully expects to do so once again before embarking on an Alex Pereira-esque campaign in 2025.

    “I love to fight. It’s so hard to stay healthy in this game that if if I’m healthy, I wanna be in the cage,” Muhammad said. “People are like, ‘Oh, we thought you were gonna wait a year to defend and you’re gonna push it longer because it took you this long to get in.’ Sitting on the couch doesn’t get you paid, sitting on the couch doesn’t make me happy. I wanna get happy by competing. I love to compete and it’s such a small window in this game where you don’t know what tomorrow is gonna hold that I’d rather stay busy.

    “The hardest thing for me was that wait (after beating Gilbert Burns),” Muhammad continued. “I wanted to get into the cage. I wanted to fight. And then for 2025, I’m trying to get on that Alex Pereira schedule. … Next year, for myself, is just (about) staying busy.”

    After winning the light heavyweight title in late 2023, Pereira has gone on to rack up three straight defenses this year in record-breaking speed. His victims were Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in April, Jiří Procházka at UFC 303 in June, and Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 earlier this month.

    Before looking to potentially replicate that feat next year, Muhammad must first vault his reign’s first hurdle by getting the better of Rakhmonov at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

  • Belal Muhammad Claims Competitive Edge Over Shavkat Rakhmonov

    Belal Muhammad Claims Competitive Edge Over Shavkat Rakhmonov

    Belal Muhammad recently weighed in on why he believes he has the upper hand against Shavkat Rakhmonov in their upcoming clash.

    Muhammad is poised to defend his welterweight title against Rakhmonov in the main event of UFC 310, scheduled for December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “Remember the Name” is riding a wave of confidence after decisively dethroning former champion Leon Edwards with a unanimous decision victory at UFC 304 in July. In a bold move, he chose “Nomad,” who is regarded as one of the most daunting competitors in the 170-pound division, as his opponent for his first title defense.

    Despite his impressive 11-fight unbeaten streak and championship status, Muhammad opened up as a significant underdog against Rakhmonov on the betting line. However, the 36-year-old Chicago native believes that Rakhmonov has yet to face a fighter quite like him.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, “Remember the Name” acknowledged Rakhmonov’s ascent through the ranks but confidently asserted that he is far tougher. Muhammad emphasized that he plans to apply unprecedented pressure and test Rakhmonov’s limits, pushing him to his breaking point.

    “But I think that the difference between me and everybody he’s faced is I’m not gonna go in there intimidated,” Muhammad said. “I’ve fought in every style; I’ve fought everybody — the best of the best. I’ve been with the biggest names, and for myself, I’ve gotten over all those humps. He hasn’t gotten over that hump yet. A lot of the guys he’s fought go in there intimidated, already seeing him, and you can just see in a lot of these guys they’ll just fall or they’ll break right away for him.

    “Now you’re going against somebody that’s tougher; you’re going against somebody that’s not gonna fall; you’re going against somebody that’s gonna stand right there in front of your face the whole time. Then what do you do? How do you react? He hasn’t had to face that type of fighter in the UFC yet; he hasn’t had those types of wars yet.”

    “Nomad” remains unbeaten in his professional career, boasting an impressive 100 percent finish rate. With a UFC record of 6-0, he is riding a wave of momentum after securing a second-round submission victory against former title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC 296 in December 2023.

  • Belal Muhammad Claps Back At Conor McGregor With Addiction Claims

    Belal Muhammad Claps Back At Conor McGregor With Addiction Claims

    Belal Muhammad recently delivered a sharp rebuttal to Conor McGregor’s latest tirade on social media directed at him.

    Earlier this week, Muhammad became the target of an explicit rant from “The Notorious” on X, who expressed his frustration with the obstacles preventing his UFC comeback. In a now-deleted tweet, McGregor lashed out at the reigning UFC welterweight champion, suggesting he could dispatch him with ease and become the promotion’s first three-division titleholder.

    McGregor’s outburst followed UFC CEO Dana White’s announcement that Muhammad will make his first title defense at 170 pounds against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. The showdown is slated to headline UFC 310 on December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, “Remember the Name” responded to McGregor’s biting comments, asserting that the only scenario in which the Irishman could envision defeating him is while under the influence. Muhammad accused McGregor of substance abuse, expressing skepticism about the former two-division champion’s imminent return to the Octagon and suggesting that he is unlikely to make a comeback in the near future.

    “As you said, there’s something in the air. I think that’s cocaine, what they call,” Muhammad said. “This guy is always high or drunk, and the only way that he’s gonna imagine beating me is if he’s high or drunk. There’s nothing that’ll ever happen. He won’t be coming back to 170 [pounds]; he won’t be coming back to fighting. He needs to go back to rehab, and like I said, if he needs a ride there, I’ll help him out—I’ll get him an Uber there. But yeah, somebody needs to help this guy; he’s not gonna be fighting anytime soon.”

    “The Notorious” has not stepped into the Octagon since suffering a severe leg injury during his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. McGregor was initially slated to make his comeback at UFC 303 in June, where he was set to face Michael Chandler in a welterweight clash. However, just weeks before the fight, the UFC superstar broke his toe, forcing him to withdraw from the highly anticipated matchup.

    Last week, McGregor teased a potential showdown with Dan Hooker on February 1 in Saudi Arabia, although he didn’t specify the weight class for the bout. “The Hangman” also expressed his enthusiasm for the possible clash, but as of now, there has been no official confirmation from the UFC.

  • Top 10 Welterweight Says Belal Muhammad’s Mindset, Preparation Key To Beating Rakhmonov

    Top 10 Welterweight Says Belal Muhammad’s Mindset, Preparation Key To Beating Rakhmonov

    Belal Muhammad is set to return at UFC 310 where he will put his welterweight title on the line for the first time against Shavkat Rakhmonov. The undefeated contender comes into December 7 as the favorite despite the champion’s own impressive winning streak.

    Rakhmonov’s ability to finish opponents is simply remarkable, with all 18 of his pro wins coming inside the distance. This, in a lot of people’s eyes, makes it an uphill battle for Muhammad who is not known for closing the show early.

    Where the champion excels in his approach and relentless drive to break opponents with his constant pressure and gas tank. His preparation and strategy is where a top welterweight contender believes this fight becomes competitive.

    Joaquin Buckley Says That Belal Muhammad’s Approach Is What Makes Him Competitive With Shavkat Rakhmonov

    In a recent interview with Luke Thomas, Joaquin Buckley gave his thoughts on the upcoming title fight in his division. The #9-ranked welterweight contender is coming off of a devastating finish over Stephen Thompson and could find himself in title talks with one more big win.

    Buckley said in his opinion, this fight is interesting because you know that Muhammad is going to come into Las Vegas with extensive homework and adjustments. “New Mansa” believes that this is at odds with the confidence of Rakhmonov who is not going to have the same approach of analyzing every detail.

    Muhammad’s ability to adapt to different opponents and choose the best path to victory is where Buckley feels that the champion has an advantage.

    “I think it’s a good fight and it’s only going to be a good fight because the way that Belal comes. Every time when he sets himself to fight an opponent, he prepares himself in the right way. Shavkat, I believe that he’s just the type of fighter that he believes just his talents and his gifts is going to take him as far as it’s been taking him now where he’s been finishing everybody.

    I don’t believe that Shavkat, in my personal opinion, is doing any film study on Belal or how he gonna beat him. Shavkat believes just in his head that him stepping in the cage with Belal is going to be good enough but I don’t think it’s going to be the other way around with Belal.

    I believe Belal is going to try to see what is going to be his best opportunities to take the fight where he needs to in order to get the decision.”

  • ‘Super Disrespectful To Belal’ – Fans React To Shavkat Rakhmonov Being Heavy Favorite To Win Gold At UFC 310

    ‘Super Disrespectful To Belal’ – Fans React To Shavkat Rakhmonov Being Heavy Favorite To Win Gold At UFC 310

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad will seemingly have to spring an upset if he’s to stall Shavkat Rakhmonov’s title ambitions.

    The schedule for the last quarter of 2024 is beginning to be finalized, and UFC CEO Dana White recently took to social media to reveal two championship headliners for the final pay-per-view of the year, UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

    Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena will play host as both the welterweight and flyweight belts get put on the line. And in regard to the former, Muhammad will be making his very first defense five months on from a dominant display to win the crown in Manchester.

    If he’s to begin his ascent to a place in the divisional GOAT discussion, Muhammad must first retain the belt at the expense of an undefeated phenom in Rakhmonov.

    “Remember the Name” has long been counted out, and his emphatic performance to unseat Leon Edwards from the throne has seemingly done little to alter his status as a perennial underdog.

    Fans React To UFC 310 Odds As Muhammad Gets Underdog Status vs. Rakhmonov

    Prior to confirmation of their fight later this year, Rakhmonov opened as a -265 favorite on BetOnline.ag to make +225 underdog Muhammad’s reign a quick one.

    Fight fans reacted to those odds — which have since shifted to -205 on the challenger’s side and +175 for the champ — after the bout was announced as the UFC 310 headliner this past weekend.

    Many expressed surprise at Muhammad’s line, with some branding it “disrespectful” and others questioning when the market will “learn.”

  • Ilia Topuria Gets Personal During Online Spat With Fellow UFC Champ Belal Muhammad

    Ilia Topuria Gets Personal During Online Spat With Fellow UFC Champ Belal Muhammad

    UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria has plenty of foes in MMA’s leading promotion, and it appears another titleholder in Belal Muhammad just joined the list.

    Topuria completed his ascent to the mountaintop at 145 pounds this past March, knocking out all-time great Alexander Volkanovski to extend his perfect promotional and professional records in violent fashion.

    The Georgian-Spaniard marked the third new divisional champion of the year, and the fourth came five months later when Muhammad unseated Leon Edwards from the welterweight throne in Manchester, England.

    But while they both joined the champs’ club in 2024, the two haven’t exactly been bonding over their newfound title glory…

    Topuria Mocks Muhammad After ‘Fake BMF Belt’ Jibe

    A video recently surfaced on social media showing Topuria backing Shavkat Rakhmonov to defeat Muhammad. The pair were recently confirmed as the headliners for the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas this December.

    “Remember the Name” didn’t take too kindly to the prediction, mocking his featherweight counterpart for purchasing his own BMF belt ahead of his showdown with the symbolic title’s current owner, Max Holloway, at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi later this month.

    That caused a back and forth between the pair, with “El Matador” taking aim at Muhammad’s UFC record and personal life alongside a video of him in the aftermath of an eye poke against Edwards back in 2021.

    “NO FINISHES NO KNOCKOUTS NO KNOCKDOWNS NO GIRLFRIEND NO KIDS BELAL HAS NEVER FINISHED ANY MAN OR WOMAN”

    Muhammad hit back by accusing Topuria of copying well-known “memes” instead of coming up with his own retorts.

    “Now ur just copying stuff word for word off memes,” Muhammad responded.

    While his heated exchanges with Holloway will soon be settled inside the Octagon — and disagreements with the likes of Sean O’Malley could be down the line — the gulf in weight between Topuria and Muhammad means this battle will likely remain in the internet realm.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates Headlines UFC Vegas 100

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates Headlines UFC Vegas 100

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards.

    With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, October 7, and Sunday, October 13, a couple of notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    A number of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov Set For UFC 310 Main Event, Pantoja Defense Co-headlines

    Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov Set For UFC 310 Main Event, Pantoja Defense Co-headlines

    The UFC will close out its pay-per-view schedule for 2024 with two major championship fights in Las Vegas on December 7.

    With the final quarter of this year well underway, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is beginning to fill the remaining slots on its fight schedule. And in two of the most prominent ones now sit reigning titleholders.

    UFC CEO Dana White took to social media on Saturday to announce the headline bouts for UFC 310, the promotion’s final PPV of the year.

    Closing out 2024 in style, a highly anticipated welterweight title fight between newly crowned champion Belal Muhammad (24-3, 1 NC) and undefeated challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0) will top the lineup inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    There will also be title stakes in the co-headliner, as flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja (28-5) returns for his second defense of the year and third overall. Having turned away the threats posed by Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg, “The Cannibal” will next share the cage with a newcomer in former Rizin champ Kai Asakura (21-4).

    Muhammad captured the 170-pound gold in enemy territory this past July, beating Leon Edwards in dominant fashion to extend his unbeaten run to 11 straight fights. Rakhmonov, meanwhile, has won all six of his Octagon outings to date, submitting both Geoff Neal and Stephen Thompson in his most recent fights.

    Pantoja is deeper into his reign on the throne at 125 pounds, having held the crown since a memorable win over Brandon Moreno in the summer of 2023. After a scare against Australia’s Erceg in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, the Brazilian will look to increase his grip on the title against a highly regarded debutant in Japan’s Asakura.

    White also confirmed that Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov and Vicente Luque vs. Nick Diaz — matchups postponed from cards in October and August, respectively — have been rescheduled for the same event.

    With these additions, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 310 on Dec. 7 are as follows:

    • Belal Muhammad (C) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov (welterweight championship main event)
    • Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs. Kai Asakura (flyweight championship co-main event)
    • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)
    • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling (featherweight)
    • Vicente Luque vs. Nick Diaz (welterweight)
    • Tatiana Suarez vs. Virna Jandiroba (women’s strawweight)
    • Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes (light heavyweight)
    • Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin (welterweight)
    • Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper (lightweight)
    • Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van (flyweight)
  • Leon Edwards’ Brother On Loss To Belal Muhammad: ‘Always Had Unfair Situations Given To Him!’

    Leon Edwards’ Brother On Loss To Belal Muhammad: ‘Always Had Unfair Situations Given To Him!’

    Fabian Edwards believes his brother, former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, was made to defend his title in “unfair” conditions this past summer.

    After withstanding challenges from both Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in 2023, Edwards returned for his first assignment of 2024 three months ago.

    “Rocky” was tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Belal Muhammad on home soil, with their rematch headlining UFC 304 in Manchester, England this past July.

    Edwards ultimately failed in that goal, with “Remember the Name” putting on a dominant display to extend his unbeaten run to 11 and ensure he exited the Co-op Live with the welterweight gold in his possession.

    Fabian Edwards Laments Time For Brother’s UFC 304 Title Defense

    During a recent interview with Bloody Elbow ahead of his own upcoming title fight, Fabian reflected on the end of his brother’s reign at the hands of Muhammad in Manchester.

    The younger of the fighting siblings pointed to the 5 AM start time as a major factor in Leon’s defeat at UFC 304. The decision to keep timings on the US pay-per-view schedule is just the latest instance of “Rocky” being made to compete in “unfair situations,” according to Fabian.

    “You know what it is? It was the time,” Fabian said. “I know everyone will say, ‘Oh, the time,’ or whatever, but most people couldn’t even stay awake until that time. So having to fight (for) a world title fight at that time? Come on. I’ve said it to everyone, how he performed in that fight was exactly how the last couple of weeks in training was. We were just like, putting it off because you do find things.

    “That’s just the way it goes. Leon’s never had an easy path,” he continued. “Even once he became champion, he’s always had unfair situations given to him, but it is what it is. He will be back.”

    It remains to be seen what lies next in the career of Leon Edwards, but he vowed to bounce back and “rise again” in his first post-fight remarks on social media.

    For now, the UFC star will have his focus and energy on the exploits of his brother, as Fabian gets set for a second opportunity at dethroning Johnny Eblen in Saudi Arabia next weekend.

  • Fellow UFC Welterweight Claims Shavkat Rakhmonov Will Be ‘Exposed’ By Belal Muhammad

    Fellow UFC Welterweight Claims Shavkat Rakhmonov Will Be ‘Exposed’ By Belal Muhammad

    Joaquin Buckley is fighting in the UFC 307 prelims against Stephen Thompson. The welterweight matchup is expected to be a back-and-forth striking brawl, leaving many disappointed it didn’t make it to the main card.

    With four straight wins in the welterweight division, Buckley is aiming to secure a title shot as quickly as possible. A win over “Wonderboy” would undoubtedly boost and place him in the top 10.

    The current title challenger at welterweight is most likely Shavkat Rakhmonov, though. As per Buckley, the undefeated prospect with a 100% finish rate is not as skilled as fans believe and will be soundly beaten by Belal Muhammad…

    Joaquin Buckley Claims His Wins Over Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Teammates Are Why “Nomad” Ducked Him

    Buckley appeared in an interview on the Inside Fighting YouTube channel and discussed his next fight alongside the state of the UFC welterweight division.

    “New Mansa” gave the new welterweight kingpin his props, appreciating his work ethic and long road to the title. However, he’s not a fan of Rakhmonov, who’s potentially Muhammad’s first defense.

    Buckley revealed he offered to fight “Nomad” when Jack Della Maddalena had to pull out, but the offer was declined. He also boasts wins over members of the Kill Cliff FC team, where Rakhmonov trains.

    The welterweight compared Rakhmonov’s durability to early Vicente Luque but expects the hype to fade once the Kazakh fighter faces elite competition like Muhammad.

    “Because he knew there was a risk that I beat the majority of his teammates that he trains with. That yes, that we got the number on the whole Kill Cliff can over there. So, I just don’t think Shavkat is as good as people claim. But you know, I feel like he definitely going to get exposed eventually, you know. If that’s not by me, that’s definitely going to be by Belal.”

    For now, Buckley’s focus is on getting past a tough veteran in “Wonderboy”, a nightmare for most fighters on the feet.

  • Jon Anik’s Verdict On UFC 306 Main Event: ‘Guys Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad…’

    Jon Anik’s Verdict On UFC 306 Main Event: ‘Guys Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad…’

    The sport of MMA moves so fast that even after a major event like UFC 306, there is very little time before everyone has moved on to the next major talking point.

    Merab Dvalishvili winning the UFC bantamweight title in the main event of the promotion’s second annual Noche UFC already feels like it happened months ago.

    His performance against Sean O’Malley inside the Sphere answered some very intriguing questions that fans had going into the fight.

    Not only was Dvalishvili able to dominate the fight with his grappling when he did close the distance, he was able to avoid taking significant damage for the majority of the duration.

    Jon Anik Says Fighters Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad Don’t Get Enough Credit

    In a recent interview with James Lynch for Middle Easy, UFC commentator Jon Anik gave his thoughts on Dvalishvili’s performance.

    He looked to really emphasize how it wasn’t just the grappling of the challenger at UFC 306 that was impressive, it was his overall game.

    Dvalishvili was constantly moving and giving O’Malley something new to think about and thanks to his unrelenting gas tank, that continued across all five rounds.

    Anik also made reference to Belal Muhammad’s title win at UFC 304 where of course, the biggest takeaway was his grappling success, but that didn’t tell the whole story of the fight where his striking was also very effective.

    “A lot of people might have fancied Umar (Nurmagomedov) against either guy and maybe now they’re not so sure just given how dominant Merab was and guys like Merab Dvalishvili and Belal Muhammad are never going to get credit for what they do as strikers. If they have a nice jab or a nice point of entry but man, the total package of Merab, like the dude needs to be tested for science right? And yeah, I’m saying that for comedic value but what is inside of there?”

    Read also: UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

  • Belal Muhammad Questions If Leon Edwards Has The ‘Mentality’ To Earn Another Title Shot

    Belal Muhammad Questions If Leon Edwards Has The ‘Mentality’ To Earn Another Title Shot

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad doesn’t know if recent opponent Leon Edwards has what it takes to earn a chance at redemption.

    Muhammad unseated Edwards from the 170-pound throne in the summer, heading across the pond to enemy territory to challenge the Brit at UFC 304 inside the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

    Against the odds and predictions of many, “Remember the Name” put on a dominant display to upset Edwards and his home crowd, sweeping the scorecards to extend his unbeaten run to 11 and make good on his pre-fight confidence.

    In the aftermath of the result, Edwards apologized to his fans and vowed to rise back to the top, even promising to “get this back in blood.”

    Muhammad, however, seems to have his doubts…

    Muhammad: Edwards Must Figure Out If He Still Has ‘The Hunger’ To Compete

    During an interview with MMA Fighting, Muhammad looked back on his triumph over Edwards and assessed whether or not the Englishman can rebound en route to a trilogy fight.

    “Remember the Name” has little doubt when it comes to his rival’s ability, which he sees as good enough to get him back into the championship conversation. But having long questioned “Rocky’s” mentality, Muhammad thinks that could pose a stumbling block.

    “Skill wise, he has the skill to do it but it’s all about mentality,” Muhammad said. “Because you’ve seen it a lot with undefeated guys, when they get that one loss, a lot of guys don’t know how to take a loss. He hasn’t lost in eight years and he had this long streak. So it comes now from how does he come back from it mentally?

    “Physically, yeah he has all the attributes, the skills to do it, and when you’re looking at the lineup now, I beat a lot of these guys in the top 10 already. So there’s not a lot of guys you’re looking at (like), ‘This guy is the clear No. 1 contender.’ So Leon could go out there and get one win and if it’s a huge win, there’s a possibility that he could get his name back in the mix,” Muhammad continued. “Now he has to figure out what he wants to do with his life. If he still wants to chase it with that hunger inside him.”

    It remains to be seen what lies in the immediate future for both Muhammad and Edwards, but it would appear to be slightly clearer for the former.

    Since his crowning this past July, the new champ has gone back and forth with both Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman regarding his first title defense, which Muhammad’s manager has pointed to as likely for UFC 310 in December.

  • ‘The Blueprint’s Out’ – Sean Strickland’s Coach To Belal Muhammad On Beating Shavkat Rakhmonov

    ‘The Blueprint’s Out’ – Sean Strickland’s Coach To Belal Muhammad On Beating Shavkat Rakhmonov

    Belal Muhammad dethroned Leon Edwards to become the new UFC welterweight champion at UFC 304. As the first UFC champion from Palestine, he’s naturally become a lot more popular lately and fans are finally getting behind him as he trolls other UFC fighters.

    Muhammad has won eleven fights in a row now. Unlike Merab Dvalishvili who was presented with Umar Nurmagomedov as soon as he won the UFC bantamweight title, the welterweight kingpin has yet to confirm his first title defense.

    Unless he fights Kamaru Usman in a title eliminator first, undefeated prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov is expected to challenge Muhammad. While discussing the matchup, Sean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick revealed how Rakhmonov doesn’t seem invincible anymore…

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Appreciates Geoff Neal, Who Beat Belal Muhammad, For Fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov The Perfect Way

    Muhammad recently opened up about the current state of the UFC welterweight division on the Verse Us with Eric Nicksick podcast. Unsurprisingly, he acknowledged the undefeated Rakhmonov with a 100% finish rate as his first potential title defense.

    Nicksick, who coaches Sean Strickland, gave “Nomad” his props but highlighted that Geoff Neal has already revealed the best way to beat him. Although ‘Handz of Steel’ lost via third-round submission, he landed several good shots on Rakhmonov.

    The key for Neal was maintaining distance and movement. He avoided getting into a clinch with Rakhmonov as the latter quickly threw knees and elbows in that position. Whenever “Nomad” landed a good shot, Neal made sure to move out of range instead of letting his opponent do more damage in the pocket or secure a takedown.

    Here are Nicksicks’s two cents on how Muhammad should approach the Rakhmonov matchup:

    “Shavkat’s the kind of boogeyman waiting in the closet. You’re like, oh s**t, what do I do? But the blueprint’s there, right? Geoff Neal fought him very well. I think you know what I mean. I think, I think the blueprint’s out.”

    The coach also explained how Muhammad’s tendency to make his opponents uncomfortable by targeting the holes in their games has worked wonders:

    “That’s the whole point we talked about in the Leon Edwards fight and the matchup is, you have more tools in the toolbox, right? And when you sit down and you break, lay out a game plan. It’s, I don’t, you’re not trying to beat the guy at what he’s best at, so how do I exploit what he’s not good at?

    Of course, Neal was successful against Rakhmonov also because he’s as tough as it gets. However, as per Nicksick, someone like Muhammad who relies a lot on decoding his opponents by watching footage can benefit greatly by analyzing Neal’s performance.

    Interestingly, Neal is the last fighter to beat Muhammad. “Handz of Steel’ defeated the current champ via TKO in 2019 and now, he could indirectly help “Remember the Name” with his first title defense.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Dvalishvili Lands Above Aspinall In P4P Top 10, Muhammad Jumps Du Plessis

    UFC Rankings Report: Dvalishvili Lands Above Aspinall In P4P Top 10, Muhammad Jumps Du Plessis

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 306 (Noche UFC), MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Merab Dvalishvili closed out Saturday’s event with his long-awaited championship crowning. As a result, the bantamweight kingpin has debuted on the P4P list at #7, one position above interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall. Further up, welterweight champ Belal Muhammad (#5) has jumped his middleweight counterpart Dricus Du Plessis (#6).

    The defeated O’Malley, meanwhile, has slid seven positions to #13. Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling is out of the top 15 entirely following the Georgian’s arrival.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: Valentina Shevchenko is once again the flyweight queen, and she’s also back on the P4P mountaintop. “Bullet” has climbed two places back to top spot, while previous #1 Alexa Grasso has fallen to #3 following her lopsided loss to Shevchenko in their trilogy.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: The sole change at 125 pounds has seen Grasso slip back to top contender status, swapping positions with now-champ Shevchenko.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Norma Dumont secured the biggest win of her career in the Noche UFC featured prelim, outpointing a badly damaged Irene Aldana. The result has seen the Brazilian ascend by three positions to #5 at 135 pounds. The defeated Mexican, on the other hand, is down just one spot to #6.

    Flyweight: In the male 125-pound weight class, Asu Almabayev has moved up one place to share #14 with the recently retired Matt Schnell.

    Bantamweight: Like in the women’s flyweight division, the only change in the men’s 135-pound division came with the switch on the throne. With Dvalishvili now occupying it, O’Malley is the #1-ranked bantamweight.

    Featherweight: The biggest climber this week is the charging Diego Lopes, who got the better of former two-time title challenger and longtime top-five contender Brian Ortega on Saturday night. The Mexico-residing Brazilian has risen by a mammoth 10 positions to #3. “T-City,” meanwhile, has been relegated to #5.

    With Movsar Evloev staying put at #6, the changes have led to a two-place fall to #7 for Arnold Allen.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Belal Muhammad Predicts Big Things For Teammate At Noche UFC 306: ‘People Are Going To Be Surprised…’

    Belal Muhammad Predicts Big Things For Teammate At Noche UFC 306: ‘People Are Going To Be Surprised…’

    UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has arrived at the fight capital of the world to help support a teammate of his.

    Iron sharpens iron is a clichéd saying in combat sports, but it’s a commonly used phrase because it is largely true.

    At UFC 306 this weekend, Muhammad believes that fight fans are going to see the evolution of one of his close training partners, who has helped him reach the top of the 170-pound weight class.

    Lightweight contender Ignacio Bahamondes has been incredibly entertaining during his UFC tenure, and “Remember The Name” is expecting big things from him on September 14…

    Belal Muhammad Says Ignacio Bahamondes Will ‘Show Out’ At The Sphere

    Bahamondes has been in the UFC for four years now, winning his contract via Dana White’s Contender Series on the same episode as light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg.

    With some incredibly flashy finishes on his highlight reel, he’s always worth keeping an eye out for, and his clash with Manuel Torres this weekend is no different.

    The 27-year old knockout artist is looking to secure back-to-back victories at the Sphere and his teammate only has positive things to say about him.

    Speaking on an episode of UFC 306 Embedded, Muhammad spoke about the relationship they have built and the hard work Bahamondes has been putting in for this fight.

    “Biggest show of the year so far, the Sphere. Excited for it, here with my brother Ignacio Bahamondes. Literally my right hand man for all my camps, so to be able to come here, support him, and watch him make history, it’s going to be an epic week.

    “Honestly, that’s my brother so I would do anything for him and he’s helped me and he’s helped me grow so much in all my fight camps, and especially more recently, everything that we’ve done together, I’ve seen him come in and grow as a fighter. To see where he is now, people are going to be surprised when he shows out on Saturday at the Sphere.”

  • ‘Too Much Social Media’ – Belal Muhammad Changes His Mind On Noche UFC 306 Main Event Pick

    ‘Too Much Social Media’ – Belal Muhammad Changes His Mind On Noche UFC 306 Main Event Pick

    Belal Muhammad recently had a change of heart regarding his pick for the Noche UFC 306 main event.

    O’Malley is poised to put his UFC bantamweight title on the line against Dvalishvili in the headlining bout of one of the year’s most anticipated pay-per-view events, set to take place at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, this Saturday.

    “Suga” enters this fight fresh off his dominant first title defense, where he redeemed his only UFC loss by decisively defeating former rival Marlon Vera at UFC 299 this past March. O’Malley captured the 135-pound crown with a second-round TKO victory over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023.

    Meanwhile, Dvalishvili rides an impressive 10-fight win streak, boasting wins over former champions such as Petr Yan and Jose Aldo. “The Machine” had been campaigning for a title shot for some time, and his wish was finally granted after a commanding victory over former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 this past February.

    Initially, the defending champion was labeled as the underdog against Dvalishvili, but as fight week unfolded, the tides shifted, and O’Malley emerged as the betting favorite for various reasons.

    Likewise, “Remember the Name” has also experienced a shift in perspective, now leaning towards a different pick for the upcoming showdown…

    Muhammad Revises His Pick for O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili Showdown

    During a recent interview with MMA legend Demetrious Johnson, Muhammad weighed in on the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili title fight. The newly crowned UFC welterweight champion admitted that just a month ago, he believed “The Machine” had what it took to dethrone O’Malley.

    However, after some reflection, he’s now leaning towards “Suga”, confident that O’Malley’s precise, well-timed striking will be enough to counter Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling and secure his title defense.

    “If you’d have asked me maybe a month ago, I would say Merab’s gonna wrestle, and Merab is on another level,” Muhammad said. “Especially with his last fight, beating Cejudo the way he did, but I’ve swayed—I’m picking O’Malley in this fight. I think he’s a sharpshooter; he’s so good at moving laterally. Merab gets hit a lot in a lot of his fights, and he’s been rocked a lot. He’s a ‘Machine’, so he’ll walk through those punches, but I just think that O’Malley hits differently than anybody he’s fought.”

    “He has so much confidence after knocking out Aljo, who I think has better striking than Merab. Merab is very wild when he runs in, and even with his takedowns, he’ll sacrifice defense just to shoot in and grab a hold of you. Once he grabs a hold of you, it’s gonna be a long night, but I think that O’Malley has been training for him. He knows how to do that back step. I think I see Merab walking into something.”

    “Remember the Name” expressed concerns that Dvalishvili seems to be prioritizing social media promotion over his actual training, implying that he may have lost the fire to win the title. Muhammad also criticized “The Machine” for his recent antics, specifically calling out his decision to publicize suffering a cut during training.

    “Merab has just been posting. I think he’s been doing too much social media, thinking about promoting and being a character instead of training hard for the fight. You’re getting stitches, you’re showing you’re getting stitches, then you’re taking them out with scissors, then you’re drinking in Mexico, and you’re showing all of this stuff that does not need to be documented. All of this stuff does not need to be posted. But I think now he’s in that social media mindset where it’s not about the hunger anymore. It’s not, ‘This is my first time getting this title shot; it took me this long to get here; I can’t let the opportunity pass me up.’ It’s, ‘Let me show the UFC that I can be sold. I can sell myself. I can do this,’ and you’re thinking about other stuff instead of the goal, which is to win the fight.”

  • Belal Muhammad Explains Why He’s Happy To Kick Leon Edwards When He’s Down

    Belal Muhammad Explains Why He’s Happy To Kick Leon Edwards When He’s Down

    Belal Muhammad recently shared why he still relishes trading verbal jabs with Leon Edwards, even after securing a victory over “Rocky”.

    Muhammad scored a controlling unanimous decision win over Edwards, capturing the UFC welterweight crown in their much-anticipated rematch in Manchester this past July.

    The clash at UFC 304 was a re-run, as their first meeting in March 2021 ended in controversy when a brutal eye-poke from Edwards prevented “Remember the Name” from continuing past the second round, resulting in a no-contest.

    Muhammad was riding an impressive 10-fight unbeaten streak, boasting victories over tough opponents like Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady, and Stephen Thompson. However, despite his dominant run, he had to tirelessly campaign for over a year to secure a title shot, as “Rocky” and his team continuously dismissed him as an unworthy challenger for the belt.

    “Remember the Name” faced a barrage of criticism and skepticism throughout his journey, and since toppling Edwards at UFC 304, he hasn’t held back in voicing his disdain…

    Muhammad’s Grudge Against Edwards Stems From Being Overlooked

    During a recent interview with UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, Muhammad was questioned why he continues to take digs at Edwards even after decisively defeating him. The newly crowned welterweight champion explained that his frustration with the Jamaican-born Brit arose from being repeatedly dismissed in the title conversation.

    Now that he’s beaten “Rocky”, Muhammad says Edwards’ teammates have begun making excuses, which only fuels his desire to keep taking shots at his former opponent.

    “It got to me, it pissed me off,” Muhammad said. “And that’s why even now, where I hate to even bring up fights, when I beat a fighter, I never want to kick a man when he’s down. But Leon, I’ll kick when he’s down, I don’t care. I’m gonna make him pay because they said I wasn’t worth it, they said he was gonna walk through me, they said I was going to be an easy fight.”

    “And for me to go out there and beat him the way I did, and now for him to go ghost—nobody even knows what happened to him—and for his team to come out with little excuses, like saying, ‘Oh, he had a bad back the whole time,’ and Leon comes out and says, ‘Oh, I didn’t get good sleep,’ like bro, just own up to it. I was better than you. I am better than you. That’s the difference between great fighters and the ones that fizzle out—they always come up with excuses for every loss.”

    Since his recent victory, Muhammad has elevated his trash-talking game, regularly firing back at critics on social media. The 37-year-old Chicago native has also been locked in a heated war of words with former champion Kamaru Usman, stoking the flames for a potential showdown, while also teasing his first title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

  • Belal Muhammad Shares Heartwarming Story Of His Parents Getting ‘Superstar Treatment’ Now That He’s UFC Champ

    Belal Muhammad Shares Heartwarming Story Of His Parents Getting ‘Superstar Treatment’ Now That He’s UFC Champ

    Belal Muhammad ran through the UFC welterweight division to finally face Leon Edwards at UFC 304. Before becoming the champ, he already boasted nine consecutive impressive wins over Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady, Vicente Luque, Stephen Thompson, and many top contenders.

    Edwards dominated the striking exchanges in his first fight with Muhammad, but it was ruled No Contest because of an eye poke in the second. Many assumed that “Remember the Name” was no match for “Rocky” and the challenger even had to wait over a year to get the title shot.

    Now that the dust has settled around Muhammad being the UFC welterweight kingpin, he’s revealed how life has changed in the past few weeks…

    Belal Muhammad Reveals How Life Has Changed Since Becoming UFC Welterweight Champion

    Muhammad was recently asked about his experience as a UFC champion on the Believe You Me podcast, hosted by Michael Bisping. He outright mentioned that people have been trying to associate with him a lot more, and there’s been a huge influx of supporters as well.

    Because he’s now stacked with media-related commitments as a champ, Muhammad misses his regular training days. He also had to change his phone number for the first time since high school, as he’s repeatedly getting calls.

    Amidst the obvious downsides of stardom, Muhammad shared that his parents have reaped the benefits of him winning the UFC championship as well. His father has been showing the belt to his peers while his mother is being asked for pictures at grocery stores.

    “I’m getting random calls. So, I had to change the number that I had since high school. But, more you know, for the most part, it’s just seeing my dad be able to celebrate it, right? He’s showing his friends the belt, my mom’s, people are asking my mom for pictures at, you know, the grocery store. So, seeing them get that superstar treatment, is a sweet part for me.”

    Making his parents proud by becoming a UFC champion is a delight for Muhammad. He looked back at the 2020 riots in Chicago during which his father’s cell phone store was looted and destroyed. With his hard work, he’s been able to help his family recover from the financial and emotional losses.

  • ‘Matchmaker’ Belal Muhammad Suggests Fights For Top UFC Welterweights Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Sean Brady &, MVP

    ‘Matchmaker’ Belal Muhammad Suggests Fights For Top UFC Welterweights Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Sean Brady &, MVP

    Belal Muhammad has been as vocal as he can be since winning the UFC welterweight championship against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. His ten-fight unbeaten streak in the division finally led to him winning gold, and he’s now firing back at all his doubters.

    As impressive as Muhammad was in his last fight, fans are now eager to see him defend his belt. From Sean Brady to Kamaru Usman to Shavkat Rakhmonov, the division is stacked with contenders as well.

    While admitting to Rakhmonov most likely being his next opponent, Muhammad has laid down the perfect plan for the rest of the top UFC welterweights….

    Belal Muhammad Reveals How Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Ian Garry, and Jack Dalla Maddalena Can Enter The UFC Welterweight Title Picture

    Muhammad discussed the current state of the UFC welterweight division in the Believe You Me podcast by Michael Bisping on YouTube. Although he thinks that Rakhmonov’s win over Stephen Thompson doesn’t make him a clear contender, he suggested the UFC wouldn’t want to lose on a potential star by testing him once again before the title shot.

    So, with Rakhmonov bagging the next title shot in the division, Muhammad suggested these fights for other top contenders:

    “If I’m matchmaker, I’m looking at Sean Brady versus Usman. And I’m looking at Ian Garry against Leon. And you know, Jack Della, I think he’s out, he’s injured, but even him against, because he’s not even proven himself. He was getting beat by Gilbert Burns until he caught Gilbert Burns at the last minute, so I would give him another test. Maybe, like an MVP.”

    Brady is coming off a dominant win over Gilbert Burns and beating a former champion like Usman would legitimize his title shot. Ian Garry could build a similar claim to the title by beating Edwards, considering not many were convinced by his win over Michael ‘Venom’ Page.

    Last, but not least, Jack Della Maddalena took out Burns after being dominated for two rounds. He can have an illustrious striking matchup with MVP, who would want to bounce back from his loss as well.

    It’s hard to assume whether the UFC will finalize any of these matchups, but the kingpin has his eyes set on all the potential threats to his title.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach: ‘King’ Belal Muhammad Turned The Tables On UFC

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach: ‘King’ Belal Muhammad Turned The Tables On UFC

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach, Javier Mendez, recently expressed that Belal Muhammad has earned the right to dictate his own terms now that he has claimed the UFC welterweight championship.

    “Remember the Name” made waves by toppling 170-pound champion Leon Edwards with a commanding unanimous decision victory at UFC 304 this past July in Manchester. The highly anticipated rematch followed their initial clash in March 2021, which ended in controversy when an accidental eye poke in the second round forced Muhammad out, resulting in a no contest.

    Muhammad has invariably demonstrated his dominance in the Octagon, as highlighted by his remarkable 11-fight unbeaten streak. But he has struggled to earn the respect he deserves.

    However, now that the 36-year-old Chicago native has claimed the title, he’s elevated his trash-talking game and flipped the script on his critics. Mendez fully supports the shift, believing Muhammad has earned the right to bask in the spotlight…

    Mendez On Muhammad’s New Attitude: ‘They Belittled Him, Now Belal Is The Man’

    During a recent episode of the Javier Mendez Podcast, the esteemed MMA coach shared his thoughts on Muhammad’s shift in approach after capturing the UFC welterweight title. Mendez remarked that despite being overlooked for years, even with an impressive win streak, Muhammad has now rightfully earned the power to dictate his own path.

    “Look at Belal Muhammad, look at what he had to do,” Mendez said. “That poor guy had to do everything, waiting; he was undefeated for how many fights, and he’s knocking on the door, and everybody was like, ‘Oh, he didn’t deserve it,’ and he kept pushing. He finally got his shot, and he did what he needed to do—he won a decisive victory over Leon Edwards. And now, it’s like, who’s doing all the talking? Now Belal is doing all the chirping because they belittled him, and now Belal is the man. Now he’s in charge, and I kind of love what he’s doing because it was done to him.”

    Mendez further added that now, as a champion, “Remember the Name” has the power to pick his next opponent.

    “He bided his time, and now he’s the king. I don’t care what you say—he can do whatever he wants, chirp as much as he wants. He can chirp all he wants because he’s the champ, and that was done to him. He got his opportunity, and he rose to the occasion, coming out with the victory. So now he’s the champ, and now he’s calling the shots like he wants to. Obviously, at the end of the day, the UFC decides who they’re going to give him, but he can decide the date. If he turns down an opponent, then obviously he doesn’t have to fight that opponent, but I don’t think Belal is going to do that. Right now, why not have fun with it like he’s doing?”

    Muhammad has embraced the idea of defending his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov, all while engaging in a fiery social media exchange with Kamaru Usman. The question of who will stand across from Muhammad for his first title defense remains up in the air, and only time will reveal his next challenger.

  • Sean Brady Reveals How Belal Muhammad Made Him ‘A Completely Different Fighter’

    Sean Brady Reveals How Belal Muhammad Made Him ‘A Completely Different Fighter’

    Sean Brady just emerged victorious in his first UFC main event against Gilbert Burns. The welterweight prospect lost to Belal Muhammad via TKO in October 2022 which led to many doubting his ability to win the title.

    However, Brady has bounced back by beating big names like Kelvin Gastelum and Burns consecutively since that loss. He submitted Gastelum in the third and put on a dominant performance against “Durinho” to restart his welterweight title run.

    Brady seems more than ready to take on another top contender, and he’s interestingly credited Muhammad for his recent success…

    Sean Brady Talks About The Positive Impact Of Losing His Undefeated Status Against Belal Muhammad

    At the UFC Fight Night Post Show on ESPN MMA, Brady was asked about his statement that he would beat Muhammad nine times out of ten. He still agreed to it but highlighted that he didn’t mean to be disrespectful.

    The main-event winner praised the champion’s skills and admitted to not appreciating the hate he gets. At the same time, though, Brady also pointed out how nervous he was going into his fight with Muhammad.

    Brady fought with “Remember the Name” while boasting an impressive 15-0 record. He talked about having bad dreams regarding losing the fight and his undefeated status. The pressure of maintaining his perfect record got to him but after the loss, Brady actually felt relieved.

    “I personally like Belal. I don’t like the hate that Belal’s always gotten. I think he deserves to be where he’s at. He’s an amazing fighter but that night, I beat myself. I was having dreams that entire week, I was going to lose the fight and it was close. I was undefeated and I felt like my entire identity was wrapped into me being this undefeated fighter.”

    Brady rightly mentioned that he’s put on two of his best performances against two of the toughest opponents in his career since losing to Muhammad. He aims to fight Ian Garry or Colby Covington next and finally secure a welterweight title shot.

    “I put so much pressure on myself. The moment I lost that fight, I was like I’m going to be a completely different fighter and my next two performances after that were my two best performances against the hardest guys I’ve ever fought.”

  • Kamaru Usman Fires Back At Belal Muhammad For ‘Corny, Weak’ Diss Track, Clarifies Next Steps

    Kamaru Usman Fires Back At Belal Muhammad For ‘Corny, Weak’ Diss Track, Clarifies Next Steps

    Kamaru Usman and Belal Muhammad are continuing to engage with one another in back-and-forth comments.

    The welterweight champion has made it clear that it’s his preference to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov next, despite the undefeated contender claiming that Muhammad turned the fight down for UFC 307 due to the quick turnaround.

    Though Usman hasn’t totally pushed to get the fight, this has been a major topic of discussion this past week because of the pedigree that the former champ has in the promotion.

    During a recent episode of his podcast, “The Nigerian Nightmare” responded to Muhammad’s most recent comeback and gave his current status.

    Kamaru Usman Reacts To Belal Muhammad’s Recent Comments

    On the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman and Henry Cejudo discussed the ongoing communication between Muhammad and the former champ.

    He started by addressing the stance that “Remember The Name” gave on wanting to fight Rakhmonov first and commenting on the video that the champion posted of Usman’s training footage with an AI song over the top.

    “For me, the way I looked at it, oh I want both, I want both guys because I want both paychecks but he doesn’t see it that way. So it is what it is but, at some point, he’s going to have to step in there with and we’re going to settle it but yeah, it is what it is. Keep dropping corny, weak diss tracks, is that what that’s called? A diss track? It was like a lullaby or something, nice country lullaby for me but it is what it is.”

    Usman then spoke about his current position in the division and appeared to be leaning towards the idea that as long as Muhammad is an active champion, both he and Shavkat will get the chance to fight him in the near future.

    It doesn’t sound from these comments like “The Nigerian Nightmare” is in any rush to fight another top contender in order to further cement his position at 170 pounds.

    “Obviously with this rumor with Shavkat, listen, we’re right there to where if the champion decides to fight sometime in the next year and a half, two years, then we’ll both fight the champion but if the champion is not deciding to fight, then the division is going to have to move on and fights are going to happen but yeah right now, all of this is rumors.

    “It is all rumors but listen, I am scared of no one. On less than nine days notice, I flew to the other side of the world to fight supposedly the scariest guy. I’m scared of no one, believe none of these rumors and at the same time, believe all of these rumors. Anything can happen, that’s all I’mma say, I’mma just leave it at that.”

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