MMA News

Tag: Belal Muhammad

  • Gilbert Burns Believes He Can Finish Sean Brady ‘Better Than’ Belal Muhammad Did

    Gilbert Burns Believes He Can Finish Sean Brady ‘Better Than’ Belal Muhammad Did

    UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is planning to make a statement at Sean Brady’s expense on Saturday night.

    The pair will headline this weekend’s UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas, with Burns tasked with defending his #6 position on the divisional ladder off the back of consecutive defeats.

    After falling short across five rounds against then-future champion Belal Muhammad in May 2023, an injury suffered in that fight kept “Durinho” on the sidelines until this past April’s UFC 299 pay-per-view in Miami.

    Although he was just less than two minutes away from a crucial bounce-back victory on the scorecards, he was the victim of a late comeback from Jack Della Maddalena, who rallied to stop him by way of TKO.

    That’s left the 38-year-old in desperate need of a return to winning ways. But more than just rebounding, the Brazilian sees a chance to move to within touching distance of the title against a former opponent of Muhammad’s…

    Burns Envisions Emphatic Finish Of Brady To Secure Title Eliminator

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Burns looked ahead to his second Octagon assignment of 2024, detailing his hopes for fight night and what he anticipates coming as a result of a strong display.

    Despite losing two on the bounce and slipping outside the top five at 170 pounds, “Durinho” believes the manner of his performance this weekend could determine whether he earns a title eliminator next time out, especially if he can go above and beyond what now-champ Muhammad accomplished at Brady’s expense back in 2022.

    “I do believe if I go out there and look phenomenal against Sean Brady, then I get another guy, maybe Leon (Edwards), Colby (Covington), Kamaru (Usman). Then beat one of those guys, then I’m there, on the top,” Burns said. “I do believe if I do my homework this Saturday good, show up there and finish Sean Brady, you know, better than Belal did — if I go out there and after that, for sure rest a little bit, come back with a good training camp and beat one of the top guys, I’m there fighting for the title.”

    Burns will look to move closer to his late-career second title shot coming to fruition this weekend by making good on his vow to stop Brady in violent fashion when they headline Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at the Apex.

  • Former Opponent On Overlooking Belal Muhammad: ‘How Is This Dude Even Here?’

    Former Opponent On Overlooking Belal Muhammad: ‘How Is This Dude Even Here?’

    Belal Muhammad has been counted out for a lot of his UFC career and that has given him a lot of motivation during his rise to the top of the welterweight division.

    Even now that he is the champion, “Remember The Name” wants to keep proving people wrong by beating the guys that everyone says he has no chance against.

    Whether it’s some of the things he says online or his fighting style that is incredibly effective but not the most glamorous to watch, Muhammad is one of the more underappreciated high-level fighters that we have seen inside the Octagon.

    A former opponent of his spoke about this and how overlooking the current champ is something that cost him when they fought several years ago.

    Randy Brown Explains Why He Underestimated Belal Muhammad When They Fought And How It Affected Him

    In an interview with Inside Fighting, Randy Brown said that he was happy to see Muhammad become the champion at UFC 304 in Manchester.

    On the subject of Muhammad being an often overlooked fighter before his clash with Leon Edwards, “RudeBoy” said that this is a hole that he also fell into when facing off with him back at UFC 208.

    “I feel like a lot of people underestimate him and it’s easy to underestimate him going into a fight and I saw that with Leon. I did it myself when we fought, you know what I mean, and I was just like, ‘I’m gonna run through this dude.’ But then you realize how sticky he is when you’re in there. Belal is actually pretty damn good and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves, unfairly.”

    Brown said that he underestimated Muhammad because of what he had seen with his own eyes in a training room, rather than any reputation that may have had.

    As we saw at UFC 304, the champion’s striking has come a long way during his time on the UFC roster but back at the start of his journey, this is what gave Brown a false sense of security.

    “We were both fighting someone from the same camp and I remember we were warming up in the room and I’m watching him shadow box and hit mitts and s*** and he looked f****** horrible. He looked terrible and I looked over to my coach and I said like, ‘How is this dude even here? Like what is he, this dude looks like s***.” So in my mind, I’m like, ‘Yo if I ever get a fight with this dude, I’ll take it in a heart beat. He’s 170, I’d whoop his f****** a**.’”

    Having been given that impression of Muhammad, Brown was happy to accept a late-notice fight with him further down the line at UFC 208 back in 2017.

    After coming into the fight with the expectation that he would be far too good for his opponent, “Remember The Name” would secure his second UFC win via unanimous decision.

    “Completely underestimated him. I already did a camp, I kind of just bull******* whatever and went in to fight him and I brought that energy into the fight.”

    Read also: ‘I’m Team Belal Muhammad’ – Gilbert Burns Extends Support For UFC Welterweight Champ Against Shavkat Rakhmonov

  • Jon Anik Defends UFC Champion Against Ducking Allegations

    Jon Anik Defends UFC Champion Against Ducking Allegations

    There has been a lot of talk of late regarding who will be Belal Muhammad’s first title challenger, after winning the welterweight belt at UFC 304.

    The undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov is quite clearly the most deserving contender but there has been some debate over whether former champion Kamaru Usman should also be in the discussion.

    Rakhmonov recently said in an interview that he had already been offered the title shot for UFC 307, which takes place in Salt Lake City on October 5.

    He claims that Muhammad turned the fight down because he couldn’t make that turnaround, which isn’t surprising considering he fought five rounds at the end of July.

    A long-time supporter of the champion has come to his defense after some fans tried to accuse Muhammad of dodging what many believe will be a big challenge for him.

    Jon Anik Says That Belal Muhammad Isn’t Ducking Shavkat Rakhmonov, Explains Motivation Behind Potential Usman Fight

    In a series of posts on X, UFC commentator Jon Anik gave his thoughts on the current layout of the welterweight division.

    Anik stressed that Muhammad shouldn’t be criticized for talking about what would be a big fight against Usman and that he certainly isn’t trying to avoid Rakhmonov at the same time.

    “1) For his legacy, not at all surprising Belal Muhammad would want the chance to defend his title against one of the all-time welterweight greats in Kamaru Usman but the notion he is somehow trying to sidestep Shavkat Rakhmonov is straight fake news.”

    Anik then went on to explain how everyone, including the UFC, knows that Rakhmonov is the next rightful contender, stating that Muhammad’s willingness to fight the unbeaten contender isn’t a barrier in the way of making that fight happen.

    “2) Shavkat Rakhmonov is 18-0 w/ 18 finishes. 6-0 in the UFC. Whether he has the No. 3 or No. 1 ranking matters not. Most of us see him as the largely unquestioned, rightful, next title challenger. And I think the UFC concurs! But the champion ain’t the f*cking problem. Trust.”

    Read also: Demetrious Johnson Gives Stamp Of Approval To UFC Champion

  • ‘I’m Team Belal Muhammad’ – Gilbert Burns Extends Support For UFC Welterweight Champ Against Shavkat Rakhmonov

    ‘I’m Team Belal Muhammad’ – Gilbert Burns Extends Support For UFC Welterweight Champ Against Shavkat Rakhmonov

    For the first time in his pro MMA career, Gilbert Burns has two consecutive losses on his record. He lost a decision to Belal Muhammad after getting injured early in the fight, followed by a late TKO loss to Jack Della Maddalena.

    Despite the losses, fans aren’t overlooking Burns as he takes on Sean Brady this weekend. Brady’s last loss came against Muhammad as well, but he bounced back by submitting Kelvin Gastelum in December 2023.

    Burns is hopeful about beginning another title run at welterweight by beating Brady, and he wants Muhammad to be the champion until he reaches the belt again…

    Gilbert Burns Praises Belal Muhammad’s Approach As Champion While Hoping To Get His Rematch

    Burns talked about his ambition to get another chance at becoming the UFC welterweight kingpin in an interview with MMA Junkie recently. He naturally needs to get past Brady first and hopes that Muhammad beats Shavkat Rakhmonov to remain champion.

    “Durinho” not only wants to get his rematch but also likes how Muhammad has carried himself since becoming champ. For instance, “Remember the Name” aims to move up a weight class only after fighting all top contenders at welterweight.

    Burns acknowledged that he’s trained with Rakhmonov quite a few times when they share camps. However, he’ll still be backing Muhammad to win as it’s the most ideal scenario for his rematch.

    “I want Belal to stay champion when I fight for the title, you know, that’s my goal and then get the rematch for the title. That would be great so I’m team Belal Muhammad, you know, I want this guy to keep winning and then whenever I’m there, that’s the guy that I’m facing.”

    The former title challenger also talked about how things have changed in the UFC welterweight division after Kamaru Usman’s dominant reign ended. He praised Muhammad for wanting to fight Rakhmonov over Usman as the former kingpin has now lost three UFC fights in a row.

    “I like that Belal is being a good champion, you know, he said he wants to fight, face the number one contender guys, before thinking on moving up or moving, you know, fighting another champion. I like that, that’s my, that was my go-to you know. Go over there, beat the number one fighters, keep beating these guys and especially he, you know, he need to make that fan base, you know. He needs to make the fans excited. He’s doing a great job right now the way he talks and I think he’s gonna be a great champion.

    Because he’s been saying the right things and wants to give his division’s contenders opportunities, Burns totally supports Muhammad to remain the champ for at least a year or two. Unsurprisingly, he would want to fight Muhammad again at his best and grab a UFC belt for the first time in his career.

  • UFC Champion Feels Kamaru Usman’s Legacy Doesn’t Compare With Israel Adesanya Or Alexander Volkanovski

    UFC Champion Feels Kamaru Usman’s Legacy Doesn’t Compare With Israel Adesanya Or Alexander Volkanovski

    Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has been trading some comments with the title’s former holder, Kamaru Usman.

    Despite being without a win since his second victory over Colby Covington, “The Nigerian Nightmare” is still very much in the title mix at 170-pounds.

    He may have lost back-to-back fights against Leon Edwards and came up short when attempting to beat Khamzat Chimaev up a weight class on late notice, but his prior winning streak in the division speaks for itself.

    Muhammad, however, doesn’t have the same kind of respect for the run that Usman went on, mostly because of his conduct when he was the champion.

    Belal Muhammad Says Kamaru Usman Picked Opponents During His Welterweight Title Reign

    Muhammad always felt that during his own welterweight winning streak, he was being overlooked by the guys at the top who didn’t want to fight him.

    He had this issue with Edwards before they met in a rematch at UFC 304 and he has the same problem with Usman.

    In an interview with Submission Radio, he spoke about why he doesn’t believe that the former champion deserves another shot at the title without returning to the win column first.

    The current titleholder, who appears to be facing Shavkat Rakhmonov next, says that Usman chose to ignore him and other viable contenders like Vicente Luque in order to take bigger money fights against the likes of Jorge Masvidal.

    Comparing Usman to other long-reigning champions of this era in Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski, Muhammad believes that he isn’t in the same conversation because he picked opponents instead of fighting the next best guy at all times.

    “If you wanted to cement yourself as the best welterweight, you do what Adesanya did or Volkanovski, who’s the next best guy. Who’s the guy that’s right there and he didn’t do that. So for him to say like now he’s calling my name, like oh now you noticed me because I have the target on my back but before you act like you didn’t know who I was. I’ve been chasing you, I’ve been here, I’ve been talking.”

    Read also: ‘Mates With Jorge Masvidal’ – MMA Analyst Explains Why Rumored Dustin Poirier vs. Colby Covington Fight Makes Perfect Sense

  • Belal Muhammad Chooses Shavkat Rakhmonov Over Kamaru Usman For Title Defense: ‘Looks Exactly Like The Leon Fight…’

    Belal Muhammad Chooses Shavkat Rakhmonov Over Kamaru Usman For Title Defense: ‘Looks Exactly Like The Leon Fight…’

    There has been a lot of conversation over the past week about whether there will be a surprise next contender for the welterweight title.

    Shavkat Rakhmonov is the clear top pick to challenge Belal Muhammad next and according to him, he was already offered the fight but it didn’t come together.

    Some have debated whether Kamaru Usman’s pedigree in the sport and strong relationship with the UFC could be enough for him to get the next shot despite the fact he is winless in his last three Octagon appearances.

    The champion himself gave his thoughts on this where he clarified why in his opinion, Rakhmonov is next in line.

    Belal Muhammad Says Kamaru Usman Misses Out Because Of Taking UFC 294 Opportunity

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Muhammad gave his thoughts on who he believes he will be fighting next.

    Along with one option being more credible because of their current form, the champion also believes that fans would look to detract from his achievements if he were to defeat Usman, which means he finds himself more motivated to go the opposite way.

    “Remember The Name” went with the consensus opinion that Rakhmonov deserves the opportunity but rather than totally disregarding Usman, he explained why in his opinion, “The Nigerian Nightmare” isn’t the front-runner at this time.

    “I think it would just be, for me, if Usman didn’t lose to Khamzat and take that fight, but people forget it was a short notice fight, that would be the fight because he only lost to Leon. But, now he lost three in a row, I think he would need another win. So for me now, it’s all right, Shavkat is the boogeyman that they all think is unbeatable and now I’m getting freaking a thousand comments on my Instagram page anytime I post anything, from the ‘Shavkatians’, so yeah I think for me, it would be another one of those tests to prove people wrong, to shut them up right.

    “My last five or six fights, everybody thought I was gonna get killed, they thought I was gonna lose so he’s another guy that I go out there and I smash him, what’s your excuse gonna be? If I go out there and I beat Usman, it’s like, ‘Well he’s on a three-fight losing streak, he’s done, he has no knees, you just beat a bum.’ But if I go out there and I beat Shavkat, they’re gonna be like what? Nothing. He was undefeated, he has all finishes so now that’s the guy that I’m putting my sights on.”

    Muhammad also broke down how he sees the fight against Rakhmonov playing out when they do eventually meet inside the Octagon.

    He said that this fight will look similar to his title-winning display at UFC 304 and referenced his win over Sean Brady to explain why he believes he will be the one to hand the unbeaten contender his first loss.

    “Honestly I think it looks exactly like the Leon fight. I think I dominate him everywhere. For me, I have a different style every single fight.

    “Shavkat looks like he’s not uncomfortable now because he’s undefeated but these undefeated guys, like I dealt with with Sean Brady, I know how to make them uncomfortable and once I make them uncomfortable, I know how to break them.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad Claims Kamaru Usman Is A Harder Fight Than Shavkat Rakhmonov: ‘One Of The Best IQs In The Game’

  • Belal Muhammad Claims Kamaru Usman Is A Harder Fight Than Shavkat Rakhmonov: ‘One Of The Best IQs In The Game’

    Belal Muhammad Claims Kamaru Usman Is A Harder Fight Than Shavkat Rakhmonov: ‘One Of The Best IQs In The Game’

    Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards via unanimous decision at UFC 304 to win the UFC welterweight championship. Many expected Edwards to defend the title comfortably, but Muhammad out-struck the champ and secured over 12 minutes of control time with nine takedowns.

    There’s no shortage of contenders for the new champion at welterweight. While Gilbert Burns, Ian Garry, and Jack Della Maddalena are potentially one good win away from a title shot, Shavkat Rakhmonov is seen as the clear contender since his submission of Stephen Thompson.

    Rakhmonov, with his 100% finish rate, is one of the most intimidating prospects in the UFC, but Muhammad thinks that Kamaru Usman will be a tougher fight for him…

    Belal Muhammad Calls Kamaru Usman The Toughest Fight In UFC Welterweight Division Over Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, And Others

    Muhammad recently discussed his first title defense on the Submission Radio YouTube channel. Despite constantly trolling Usman since winning the title, he admitted that Rakhmonov deserves a title shot most. The former UFC welterweight kingpin, in his opinion, needs to get back into the win column after losing three fights in a row.

    Muhammad doesn’t underestimate Usman as an opponent, though. He acknowledges that the “Nigerian Nightmare” has a ton of experience fighting top-level competition and is one of the smartest fighters inside the Octagon.

    Here’s how the champ responded when asked about the tougher opponent between Rakhmonov and Usman:

    “Honestly, I would say Kamaru. Just because he’s fought the highest level for so long. And, stylistically, he has one of the best IQs in the game. So, I think, for me, fighting somebody with the close to an IQ of myself would be a harder fight.”

    “Remember the Name” also looked back at Usman’s short-notice bout against Khamzat Chimaev. Like many, he was impressed by the former UFC welterweight kingpin’s performance against “Borz” and believes the fight could’ve gone the other way if there were two more rounds.

    Like Usman, Muhammad claimed that MMA fans usually forget how good fighters are as soon as they lose a fight.

    “He still has tread on his tires. People will sit there and say, like, you said, people must have forgot, right? And its, people are quick to forget about you but he fought that fight with Khamzat on eight days’ notice and it was a game of inches in that fight, right? It could, if it was two more rounds in there, I would’ve been very interested to see how it would have went.”

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Trusts UFC’s Meritocracy To Prevent Conor McGregor Title Shot Hijack, Reveals Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Date

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Trusts UFC’s Meritocracy To Prevent Conor McGregor Title Shot Hijack, Reveals Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Date

    Shavkat Rakhmonov hasn’t put a foot wrong during his ascent up the welterweight ladder towards a title shot.

    With a undefeated record and all of his wins coming via finish, the 170-pound contender appears to be set up to challenge Belal Muhammad for the belt next time out. unless something unexpected occurs.

    The UFC has been known to temporarily swerve the rankings if it means putting something big together and when you’re talking big in MMA, there’s no one larger than Conor McGregor.

    Despite there being no rescheduled date for his welterweight return against Michael Chandler, “The Notorious” returning with a win could completely change the top of the weight class.

    Rakhmonov spoke in a recent interview with MMA Fighting about how he believes the promotion will do right by him even in the instance that “The Mac” is back in the mix.

    “He’s been getting ready to fight a long time but wasn’t able to do that yet so in my head, I don’t even think about him winning this one fight in three years is going to do something. I understand he’s a big star but in my head, I don’t see it being possible. I believe UFC is the best and the most fair organization so I believe they’re gonna do everything right.”

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Reveals That Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Title Fight

    Though there has been some debate over whether Rakhmonov will definitely be the next title challenger for Muhammad, the contender answered this question all by himself.

    He revealed during the same interview that he has already been offered the title shot but it didn’t come to fruition due to the champion not being able to make a 70-day turnaround to fight at elevation in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Alex Pereira will be headlining UFC 307 instead, which always seemed to be an optimistic target for Muhammad after he won the belt at the end of July.

    “Yeah, actually I had already been offered to fight Belal and I accepted the fight against Belal but unfortunately, he declined to fight me due to the timing issues, he wasn’t ready to defend his belt on that time. So, we’ll see what’s gonna happen and when he’s gonna be ready so I will be able to fight him. Before he became a champion and after he won the belt, he said he’s gonna be an active champion and he will defend his belt more often but at the moment, he isn’t backing up what he said so let’s see what’s going to happen, when he’s going to be ready to fight me.”

    Read also: Khalil Rountree Says He Would Fire His Coaches If They Insisted He Grapple Alex Pereira

  • Chael Sonnen Feels Kamaru Usman Can Hijack Title Shot: UFC Not Ready For Muhammad vs Rakhmonov Presser

    Chael Sonnen Feels Kamaru Usman Can Hijack Title Shot: UFC Not Ready For Muhammad vs Rakhmonov Presser

    When Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards to become the welterweight champion at UFC 304, there was a common consensus for who his first challenger would be.

    At 18-0 with all finishes, Shavkat Rakhmonov currently holds the #3-ranking at 170-pounds and is a huge threat to anyone in the division.

    There is, however, another contender that is still ranked above Rakhmonov despite the fact that he has lost his last three fights.

    Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was beaten by Edwards in consecutive fights before taking a short notice opportunity against Khamzat Chimaev up at middleweight.

    Though he may be lacking some momentum right now, Usman was a dominant champion whose name still carries a lot of weight, which could be enough to see him jump back into the title picture.

    Chael Sonnen Says Kamaru Usman Needs To Push For Welterweight Title Shot Because He’s So Close

    In a recent YouTube video, Chael Sonnen was very keen to push just how close Usman is to the title shot for a number of reasons.

    He said that he needed to come out and say this after “The Nigerian Nightmare” had called out Rakhmonov when in reality, he should be trying to get the title shot instead because it’s possible.

    Sonnen made reference to how despite both men having fanbases away from the usual US audience of the UFC, the promotion might have some doubts about having Muhammad and Rakhmonov headline an event – which Usman can use to better his case.

    With Usman being a much more familiar face, he could jump in front of Rakhmonov thanks to his name and pedigree even if his fellow contender is much more deserving based on current form.

    “He is right there about to get Belal, I mean he is right there. There is only one guy even in discussion that might nudge him out and that is Rakhmonov and it’s wildly important that they get this figured out. If Rakhmonov nudges him out, there’s probably not going to be another time that Kamaru’s going to be needed.

    “This is the time, he’s got to beat him. Rakhmonov has got to shine himself up just a little bit more. The UFC, no matter how big it is and no matter what the fan base is, is not ready for a press conference with Muhammad and Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman has got to push that narrative. I’m only sharing that because he is this close and at one point he didn’t know it.”

    Read also: Former Opponent Reveals He Perfectly Predicted ‘Randy Couture Style’ Welterweight Title Win For Belal Muhammad At UFC 304

  • Former Opponent Reveals He Perfectly Predicted ‘Randy Couture Style’ Welterweight Title Win For Belal Muhammad At UFC 304

    Former Opponent Reveals He Perfectly Predicted ‘Randy Couture Style’ Welterweight Title Win For Belal Muhammad At UFC 304

    Belal Muhammad came into UFC 304 as the underdog but he certainly didn’t look like it in the early hours of the morning in Manchester.

    The welterweight title challenger largely dominated Leon Edwards to become the champion via a unanimous decision verdict.

    After Edwards had already beaten top grapplers in Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, many assumed that he would have no problem thwarting the heavy wrestling approach of Muhammad, but this wasn’t the case.

    Having been inside the Octagon with him for 25 minutes, a former opponent of the current champion saw this performance coming from him and successfully predicted it ahead of time.

    Gilbert Burns Reveals Correct Pre-Fight Prediction & Breakdown For UFC 304

    During a recent episode of the Believe You Me Podcast, Michael Bisping was joined by former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns.

    Burns is looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats next time out when he faces Sean Brady, both of whom whom were beaten by Muhammad during his undefeated run to the title.

    “Durinho” revealed during the interview that he wasn’t surprised by what went down in Manchester and had in fact, told Bisping ahead of time.

    After going through his messages, the former middleweight champion was able to find the message which correctly called that “Remember The Name” would get his hand raised on July 27 and how he would do it.

    Bisping read the message aloud having asked Burns for his prediction, only to then forget to mention it during the live broadcast.

    “Tough fight but I believe Belal’s going to make it a dog fight. I think that’s the only way for him to win and I believe he will do that. Randy Couture style dog fight. Inside dirty boxing mixed up with the wrestling.” 

    Read also: Stephen Thompson On Welterweight Star He Wants To Fight Instead Of Michael ‘Venom’ Page: ‘I Think People Would Boo That Fight’

  • Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

    Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

    According to UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has not lost a step.

    Muhammad was crowned kingpin at 170 pounds courtesy of a dominant upset victory over Leon Edwards at the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester, England, late last month.

    Having achieved his title dreams on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, “Remember the Name” had plenty of thanks to pass around to those who helped him reach the position he now finds himself in.

    Among them is Khabib Nurmagomedov and the members of his team.

    Prior to his knockout victory over Sean Brady in 2022, Muhammad sought the help of the former UFC lightweight champion and even had his guidance from the corner on fight night.

    Be it in person or over the phone, Muhammad has had a similar helping hand from “The Eagle” ever since. With that in mind, the welterweight champ is uniquely placed to describe the condition Khabib is in when it comes to hands-on training.

    And according to him, Khabib — who retired with a 29-0 record following his successful title defense against Justin Gaethje in 2020 — is still a step above the rest…

    Muhammad: Khabib ‘Toyed With Me’ In Training

    During a recent appearance on ex-UFC athlete Brendan Schaub and Bryan Callen’s The Fighter and The Kid podcast, Muhammad further described the work he’s been putting in with Khabib and some of the big names on the Nurmagomedov team.

    “Remember the Name” admitted he was regularly schooled on the mats, including by the retired lightweight legend himself. And when it comes to Khabib’s continued mixed martial arts capabilities, Muhammad says he’d back “The Eagle” to capture gold again at any weight.

    “There’s not a weak person in that group. Every single one of the people is beating me up,” Muhammad said. “Khabib’s freakin’ playing with me, throwing me around. I’m just like, ‘Man, I’m fighting for the world title and this guy’s just toying with me.’

    “Literally, when I was in New Jersey I was like, ‘Bro, I’m getting killed by him,’” Muhammad continued. “Khabib’s still — literally he could come back and be a champion right now in any division he wants to. … It’s literally unbelievable.”

    Unfortunately for fans hoping to see those claims tested inside the cage, Khabib has remained firm on his refusal to entertain a comeback since hanging up his gloves.

    While he was initially a regular fixture in the camps and corners for the likes of Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, “The Eagle” took an extended break from traveling in 2023.

    Recent months have seen his return to that realm, however, with Khabib first cornering Makhachev against Dustin Poirier this past June and more recently calling the shots for his cousin Umar’s victory over Cory Sandhagen earlier this month.

  • Belal Muhammad Told To Hand Out ‘A Couple Of 10-7s’ To Ian Garry On Social Media: ‘But Keep The Wife Out Of It…’

    Belal Muhammad Told To Hand Out ‘A Couple Of 10-7s’ To Ian Garry On Social Media: ‘But Keep The Wife Out Of It…’

    Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy recently offered insightful counsel to Belal Muhammad, urging him to elevate his mic game and suggesting that sharpening his verbal skills could be the key to skyrocketing his popularity.

    “Remember the Name” realized his dream of dethroning welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 304 last month at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester. This showdown marked their second clash, following their initial encounter in March 2021, which ended in a no-contest after an accidental eye-poke prevented Muhammad from continuing beyond the second round.

    Although Muhammad has consistently showcased his prowess in the Octagon, evidenced by his impressive 11-fight unbeaten streak, he seems to lack the gift of gab—a skill many UFC fighters masterfully wield to sell fights and win the hearts of fans.

    However, the newly crowned UFC welterweight champion appears to have shifted his approach in recent times, as evident on his X account, where he’s been unleashing unrelenting jabs at his naysayers. For the past few days, he’s been locked in a heated war of words with former long-reigning champion Kamaru Usman.

    Muhammad’s revamped strategy has certainly caught the attention of Thomson and McCarthy, who view it positively but believe he can still fine-tune his verbal game even further…

    Thomson & McCarthy Believe Muhammad’s Edwards Victory Was Two-in-One Success

    In a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast with McCarthy, Thomson delved into Muhammad’s rising popularity following his victory over Edwards. The former UFC lightweight champion remarked that “Remember the Name” has undeniably silenced his critics with this win, solidifying his place among the sport’s elite.

    “I think overall he’s doing a great job because if you look, the one knock—not one, there were two knocks on him—interviews were cringe, okay? Like, ‘oh, it’s just too much; he’s forcing it too much, and he’s a boring fighter,’” Thomson said. “I’m sorry, he stood toe-to-toe with Leon, had some great wrestling, had some good standup—he fought a great, well-rounded fight. He’s a true MMA fighter, and he’s proving that now. Put him on the mic, maybe just take away the mic then if you don’t like what he has to say, but man, he’s lighting up Twitter right now.”

    “The Punk’ also noted how Muhammad is now playfully clapping back at his trolls on social media, adding a new dimension to his public persona.

    “He’s crushing X, and I love it. I love that he’s smashing dudes, I love that he’s handing out L’s, I love that he’s dishing out 10-8 rounds. I want to see a couple of 10-7s to Ian Garry, though. I’d like to see that—if he can hand a 10-7 to Ian Garry, I’d like to see it because that’s another guy who’s very cringe. They’ve got to take the mic away from that guy.”

    McCarthy nodded in agreement with Thomson’s remarks and playfully suggested that if Muhammad ever engages in a war of words with Garry, he should steer clear of bringing up his spouse in the trash talk.

    “Okay, I’m all for him handing out a 10-7 to Garry, but keep the wife out of it.”

    Since his victory, Muhammad has welcomed the prospect of facing Shavkat Rakhmonov for his first title defense, while simultaneously sparring with Usman in a heated social media back-and-forth.

    However, with “The Nigerian Nightmare” reeling from three consecutive losses, a title shot seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Garry, who remains undefeated and vocal about his ambitions for a title fight, could soon find himself in the welterweight title mix.

  • Brendan Allen On Long Title Run For Belal Muhammad At Welterweight: ‘A Lot Of Switches That Need To Be Flipped’ (Exclusive)

    Brendan Allen On Long Title Run For Belal Muhammad At Welterweight: ‘A Lot Of Switches That Need To Be Flipped’ (Exclusive)

    Brendan Allen watched on at UFC 304 as his long time friend Belal Muhammad finally got his shot at the welterweight title.

    The middleweight contender was incredibly happy to see the challenger get his hand raised and hear “and new”, after beating Leon Edwards over five rounds in Manchester.

    Allen, who is preparing for a big co-main event clash in Paris with Nassourdine Imavov, was able to take motivation from this as he also seeks his first title shot.

    The #7-ranked contender sees his friend keeping hold of the belt at 170-pounds as long as he’s able to lock down the mental aspects of being a champion.

    Brendan Allen Believes Belal Muhammad Will Stay Welterweight Champion As Long As He’s Motivated

    Muhammad is now set to go from hunter to hunted after chasing the welterweight title for such a long time.

    While this means he won’t be needing to call opponents out in order to climb the ladder anymore, it does mean shifting his mentality now that he has achieved his goal.

    The welterweight division isn’t short on dangerous challengers either, with the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov likely being the next man in line.

    During an interview with MMA News, Allen spoke about whether he believes his friend will be able to establish a long reign as champion by continuing his win streak.

    He said that due to knowing Muhammad well, he believes he certainly has the skills and confidence to do so but the key is staying just as motivated and hungry as he was on the way up the mountain.

    “I do, I think it’s as long as he wants it you know. As long as he’s motivated and hungry, I think he can hold it as long as he wants just because he has the skill. It’s just. I haven’t personally been in the situation of obviously being a champion yet at that level but they say there’s a lot of switches that need to be flipped in the way that you translate your thinking in order to find a different motivation and hunger. So, I think as long as he does that and continues to want it, I think he’ll be just fine. He has such a strong fight IQ, he’s good everywhere, he knows what to do and when to do it. So yeah, I really think he can.”

    Read also: ‘Belal Twitter Fingers On Point’ – MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad & Kamaru Usman Indulge In Hilarious Social Media Feud

  • ‘Belal Twitter Fingers On Point’ – MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad & Kamaru Usman Indulge In Hilarious Social Media Feud

    ‘Belal Twitter Fingers On Point’ – MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad & Kamaru Usman Indulge In Hilarious Social Media Feud

    Belal Muhammad has never been the type of person that tends to avoid engaging in the occasional social media back-and-forth and this hasn’t changed since he has become champion.

    In fact, since winning the title at UFC 304, the new titleholder has been exchanging words with the division’s former champion, Kamaru Usman.

    What started with one post from Usman where he criticized some comments from Muhammad in an interview has now seen them both retaliate.

    Usman’s response specifically focused in on Muhammad’s comments about his cameo appearance in Black Panther, which of course, “Remember The Name” had a counter for.

    In the final statement, at least at this current time, Muhammad revisited the first post that kicked off this conversation, bringing up a point about Usman referring to his win over Leon Edwards.

    MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad Gets The Last Laugh For Now

    Though a lot of fans would likely rather see the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov challenge Muhammad for the welterweight title next, this social media feud with Usman has been entertaining to say the least.

    Both men have been able to get in some good jabs at one another and it appears that the current 170-pound king has had the final word.

    The combat sports community on social media reacted underneath Muhammad’s recent post.

    “Nah Belal really read that back a few times to cook up some more shit. Keep it comin champ”

    “Belal Twitter fingers on point right now. Me sitting back enjoying the back and forth”

    “Bully bringing receipts…..”

    “Ur making bruh cry please stop”

    “Your last KO was when Bush was president in high school. Stop bro the king of Decisions”

    “Belal kinda cooking rn ngl”

    “Damn. Going for the knees is a shot below the belt…”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

  • Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’

    Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’

    During Belal Muhammad’s current winning streak which now sees him at the top of the welterweight division, a lot has been made about the company he has chosen to keep.

    “Remember The Name” has got a solid and small team around him but he has also decided in recent times to do some work alongside the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.

    This was especially true heading into Muhammad’s fight with Sean Brady, which produced his best performance inside the Octagon at that time.

    It was also a part of the narrative heading into his title fight with Leon Edwards last month.

    Whilst the champion at the time had dealt with American wrestlers in Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, how would he match-up with someone that has been training with some of the best grapplers in the sport?

    Javier Mendez Says Belal Muhammad’s Coaches Deserve More Credit For UFC 304 Win

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, AKA head coach Javier Mendez said that people got too carried away with giving ‘coach Khabib’ credit for Muhammad’s recent title win.

    Whilst the welterweight challenger did manage to get some work in with “The Eagle” before heading to Manchester, Mendez revealed that it was only for a very small amount of time in the grand scheme of the training camp.

    He said that while Nurmagomedov did contribute and would have added some extra value, the credit for this win on the coaching side of things deserves to be aimed at Muhammad’s long-time team instead.

    “What about his coaches? What about Lou? What about his other coaches? Mike Valley, you know, what about them? I mean they were with him through this whole time so to me, it isn’t anything other than what they did as coaching staff because Khabib only put like maybe a week – two weeks to help him on this one and the rest he spent with his coaches. So, to me, I don’t like the narrative when they make it look like Khabib made the big difference when yeah he helped him but his coaches made the difference.”

    Read also: Javier Mendez Chooses Between Khabib & Umar Nurmagomedov In Striking, Grappling, Mental Toughness, & Chin

  • Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

    Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

    UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad had to wait three years to get his shot at a rematch with Leon Edwards.

    After their first fight ended in a no contest due to an eye poke, both men put together impressive winning streaks before meeting against at UFC 304.

    In that time, Muhammad was very open about his dislike of Edwards for not wanting to fight him, but with that being said, he was honest about a potential trilogy fight between them.

    “Rocky” could seemingly put himself back in the title picture with a bounce-back win, and the champion acknowledged that.

    Belal Muhammad Questions Whether Leon Edwards Will Recover From Loss & Corner Conflict

    In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Muhammad gave his thoughts on the current state of the 170-pound division and whether he expects to cross paths with Edwards once again.

    He believes that whilst “Rocky” can certainly put his name back in the mix if he goes away and beats a fellow top contender, he doesn’t know whether that will happen.

    Muhammad said that it will be an uphill battle for the former champion to come back as the same fighter with the same hunger, after what took place in Manchester.

    He also made reference to how Edwards could be dealing with a fractured team after what happened inside the Octagon on July 27.

    The Brit’s head coach Dave Lovell, in trying to motivate his fighter, asked him whether he wanted him to wave the fight off and call it a night to which Edwards seemingly told him to “shut the f*** up”.

    Muhammad said that this factor may mean it’ll take some time before Edwards is on his radar once again.

    “There’s not a lot of guys that you’re looking at like this is a clear number one contender, this guy’s clear number one contender, so Leon could go out there, get one win and if it’s a huge win, there’s a possibility that he could get his name back in the mix. But, it all just comes back mentally.

    “I don’t know if him and his coach are gonna have like a break-up party now because they looked pretty bad in the corner right. There’s a lot of turmoil there so I feel like there’s gonna be a lot of blame and a lot of embarrassment coming from that team and a lot of just embarrassment from himself.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad On How Many Title Defenses Before He Can Discuss Double-Champ Status: ‘I Already Beat All These Guys In The Top 10!’

  • Belal Muhammad On How Many Title Defenses Before He Can Discuss Double-Champ Status: ‘I Already Beat All These Guys In The Top 10!’

    Belal Muhammad On How Many Title Defenses Before He Can Discuss Double-Champ Status: ‘I Already Beat All These Guys In The Top 10!’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad believes his long and grueling path to the title means a quicker route to another belt is on the cards.

    Muhammad added the 170-pound gold to his résumé late last month in Manchester, headlining the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in enemy territory in competition for Leon Edwards’ throne.

    “Remember the Name” made good on his confident pre-fight predictions, dragging “Rocky” to deep waters with his pressure wrestling and ever-improving striking game en route to a lopsided decision win.

    While a significant moment for his career, the crowning has certainly not marked the completion of Muhammad’s ambitions. And as well a rise up the pound-for-pound ranks from his current #5 ranking, that includes entry into the ‘champ-champ’ club…

    Muhammad Targets Two Welterweight Defenses Before Middleweight Shot

    During a recent interview with John Morgan for Grind City Media, Muhammad discussed the current landscape of the welterweight division and assessed how much work he’ll have to put in to open up a path to 185 pounds.

    “Remember the Name” has frequently discussed the sheer number of top contenders he had to go through in order to finally earn a first championship opportunity. And having already defeated four names inside the top 10, he expects to only require a couple of defenses before his gaze fully drifts to the middleweight strap.

    “I beat this guy, this guy, this guy. … None of these guys beat a number one contender like I beat a number one contender,” Muhammad said. “When I beat Luque, he was on a seven-fight winning streak…he weighed in as a backup. When I beat Gilbert Burns, he was on a two-fight winning streak; he was the number one contender. … Sean Brady was 15-0 when I beat him. All these guys had big wins, huge wins.

    “It tells me that I’ve got maybe two fights and then I can start talking about double-champ status because I already beat all these guys in the top 10,” Muhammad continued.

    While he’s now quickly setting his sights on the gold held above him by Dricus Du Plessis, Muhammad has also poured gold water on the two-division ambitions of another UFC champion.

    In recent years, “Remember the Name” has often trained alongside lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev. Although the Dagestani has been firm in outlining his plans to secure the welterweight belt, the presence of his friend on that throne means his pursuit of another belt has paused for the time being.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Belal Muhammad Jumps Sean O’Malley On Pound-For-Pound List

    UFC Rankings Report: Belal Muhammad Jumps Sean O’Malley On Pound-For-Pound List

    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 Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: A week after entering the P4P rankings at #6, Belal Muhammad has had another boost. The welterweight champion has now moved above his bantamweight counterpart, Sean O’Malley (#6), to occupy the #5 position.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: Bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington is expected to defend her title for the first time opposite ex-champ Julianna Peña this fall. And the pair now sit on the same step of the pound-for-pound rankings, with “Rocky” joining “The Venezuelan Vixen” to share #5.

    Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern bounced back from a two-fight skid on Saturday, but she’s still fallen further at 115 pounds. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace has dropped one place to #8, with her compatriot Amanda Ribas moving up to #7.

    Women’s Flyweight: While on the rise at strawweight, Ribas has taken a hit at 125 pounds, slipping one spot to #10 below Viviane Araújo (#9).

    Women’s Bantamweight: At 135 pounds, Miesha Tate and Norma Dumont have both been boosted to #8, leaving a three-way tie for the position with Karol Rosa.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov secured the biggest win of his young career to date in Abu Dhabi, outpointing the highly ranked Cory Sandhagen across five rounds. As a result, the Dagestani has climbed a mammoth eight places to #2. “The Sandman,” meanwhile has remained in the top five after a one-spot drop to #4.

    Also on the rise at 135 pounds is Deiveson Figueiredo (#5), who secured a top-five position with his comfortable victory over former title challenger Marlon Vera this past weekend.

    Featherweight: At 145 pounds, Movsar Evloev is down one step to #6, no longer sharing the #5 place with Arnold Allen. Further down, Bryce Mitchell has moved up to share #12 with Diego Lopes.

    Lightweight: Despite having his return announced for 170 pounds at UFC 308 later this year, former champ Rafael dos Anjos has received a boost at 155 pounds. He’s climbed to #13, swapping positions with Jalin Turner (#14).

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: He’s had to wait a while but Roman Dolidze is finally ranked in two weight classes following his triumph over Anthony Smith at UFC 303. The Georgian has arrived at 205 pounds in the #15 position, three spots below “Lionheart.”

    Elsewhere in the division, Azamat Murzakanov is knocking on the door of the top 10 after climbing three spots to #11 courtesy of his knockout win over Alonzo Menifield on August 3.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Jon Anik Talks Difficulty Of Avoiding Bias While Commentating On ‘Family’ Belal Muhammad: ‘People Just Fixate Upon This…’

    Jon Anik Talks Difficulty Of Avoiding Bias While Commentating On ‘Family’ Belal Muhammad: ‘People Just Fixate Upon This…’

    Jon Anik recently opened up about the challenge of maintaining impartiality while commentating on the fights of his close friend, Belal Muhammad.

    Muhammad clinched a resounding unanimous decision victory over reigning UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards in their highly anticipated rematch last month at UFC 304 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

    Ever since “Remember the Name” ascended to the UFC 170-pound championship, Anik, who typically upholds a veneer of neutrality regarding UFC fighters, has been fervently expressive on social media.

    In a recent post on Instagram, Anik professed that his favorite aspect of the job is witnessing a title challenger triumph and rise to championship glory. When Muhammad achieved this milestone at UFC 304, the play-by-play commentator confessed that his bond with the Palestinian-American fighter, coupled with Muhammad’s grueling path to the title, made the victory exceptionally poignant for him.

    However, calling a fight involving a dear confidant presents Anik with a distinct array of professional difficulties in the commentary booth…

    Anik Explains He Separates Personal Bonds When Fighters Enter The Octagon

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Anik delved into the complexities of sustaining emotional equanimity and navigating personal affiliations when commentating on fights involving athletes he knows well, particularly Muhammad.

    The UFC broadcaster explained that once a fighter steps into the Octagon, he sets aside any personal relationships and strives to limit his commentary to what is necessary.

    “Well, they’re all different. I mean, certainly, when the athlete hits the tunnel, I try to remove a lot of that from the equation,” Anik said. “If you look at the way I was, ‘sucking Jan Blachowicz’s d*ck’ when he won the title, it’s not dissimilar to the way I’m celebrating Belal Muhammad now. I think people just fixate upon this because of his relationship with my twin brother. Yes, there’s a lot of personal connection there.

    Yes, Belal is like family, but once he hits that tunnel, that relationship is thrown out the window. This one just had a lot of interpersonal connections because of my twin brother, but I do believe I’m able to compartmentalize and throw those things out and objectively call these fights.”

    Anik went on to mention that if he ever makes any biased or unnecessary comments during fights, UFC executives on the production team promptly remind him of the impropriety.

    “You can be sure the day that I’m not able to do so, I’ll get a call from Craig Borsari, my boss, or Zach Candito, one of my other bosses, or Dana White will get word to me in an indirect way. So, word hasn’t come in yet. I stand by the call, as I do most of these, and I love both the athletes. Oftentimes, there’s a relationship on both sides of the fight, and that was certainly the case at UFC 304.”

    Anik and Muhammad developed a close rapport when he signed “Remember the Name” to his podcast network in 2020. Since then, Muhammad has co-hosted Remember the Show on YouTube alongside Jason Anik, the identical twin brother of the UFC commentator.

  • Belal Muhammad On If Kamaru Usman Or Shavkat Rakhmonov Gets Next UFC Welterweight Title Shot: ‘I Think He’s Still Got Tread In The Tyres…’ 

    Belal Muhammad On If Kamaru Usman Or Shavkat Rakhmonov Gets Next UFC Welterweight Title Shot: ‘I Think He’s Still Got Tread In The Tyres…’ 

    Newly crowned UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad sees the merits of facing both Kamaru Usman and Shavkat Rakhmonov for his first title defense.

    Muhammad finds himself on the throne after making the most of his first shot at glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage late last month. “Remember the Name” crossed the pond to challenge Leon Edwards at the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester, England.

    Amid a hostile reception, Muhammad delivered on his promise to emphatically unseat “Rocky” in the main event, utilizing his grappling and ever-improving striking to control large parts of the five-round contest en route to a comfortable decision win.

    As is always the case following a title win, talk has quickly turned to the welterweight division’s next championship matchup and who could be the first to test Muhammad’s reign.

    The champ has a ‘bring one, bring them all’ mindset…

    Muhammad Asked To Choose Between Usman, Rakhmonov

    During a recent interview for ESPN MMA while in Abu Dhabi for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, Muhammad reflected on his championship triumph in Manchester and looked ahead to what could be next for him inside the Octagon.

    “Remember the Name” acknowledged the benefits that would come with fighting one of the division’s all-time greats in Usman for his first defense, but he also reiterated his desire to take Rakhmonov’s 0.

    “Anyone of them, right? Usman, obviously I think for legacy,” Muhammad said. “He’s one of the biggest names in the division, he’s under GSP, and I think he’s still got tread in the tyres, even though he lost the close fight to Leon and then the really close fight to Khamzat.

    “I think name value, he has the bigger name. But also, I want to fight the boogeyman,” Muhammad continued. “The boogeyman that everybody says can beat anybody, is gonna walk through anybody. … I knew after beating Leon, they would say, ‘Well, Shavkat will walk through him! He can’t do that to Shavkat!’ I’m just gonna keep doing it. … Dana White, you just got to give me the time and date and I’m ready to go.”

    Both “The Nigerian Nightmare” and “Nomad” have been staking their claims for the first shot at Muhammad, with the former most recently having a somewhat heated back and forth with the champ on social media.

    While Usman hasn’t competed at welterweight since falling short against Edwards in their trilogy fight last year, the most recent victory in Rakhmonov’s undefeated run in the weight class came over Stephen Thompson last December.

  • MMA News Today: Sean O’Malley Criticizes Conor McGregor’s ‘Slow & Sloppy’ Pad Work, Amped Up Belal Muhammad & Alexander Volkanovski Trade Barbs After UFC 304, & More

    MMA News Today: Sean O’Malley Criticizes Conor McGregor’s ‘Slow & Sloppy’ Pad Work, Amped Up Belal Muhammad & Alexander Volkanovski Trade Barbs After UFC 304, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For August 2, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • O’Malley reviews latest McGregor footage
    • Muhammad and Volkanovski trade words after UFC 304 comments
    • Former strawweight champion set to return at UFC 307

    Sean O’Malley Critiques Conor McGregor’s Latest Pad Work Video On Social Media

    After taking some time to recover from his injury that led to the cancellation of his return at UFC 303, Conor McGregor appears to be getting back to work.

    “The Notorious” is hopeful of returning later this year but he appeared to have taken his foot off the gas once June 29 was ruled out.

    His latest training footage came courtesy of his own social media accounts, with the Irishman seen working on his boxing and hitting pads.

    UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, who has engaged in some interactions with McGregor as of late, gave his review via a reply to the post.

    McGregor also commented in response, calling for O’Malley to try and do better whilst telling him to “cheer up”.

    Belal Muhammad & Alexander Volkanovski Beef After Pre-Fight Comments

    During a recent episode of Remember The Show, Belal Muhammad hit back at all his fellow fighters that doubted him ahead of UFC 304.

    The new welterweight champion specifically referenced Alexander Volkanovski, who was in attendance this past weekend in Manchester, and suggested that Muhammad would be a good style clash for him.

    “You guys were hating, all these guys wanted to come out. Volkanovski, ‘Man I think Belal’s a good match-up for me if I fight him.’ Shut up bro, I’ll smack the hell out of you. All these guys right, there’s nobody in the UFC that will beat me.”

    Volkanovski responded on social media where he doubled down on his previous statement and told Muhammad to say that to him the next time they cross paths.

    “@bullyb170 you have every reason to hate on what I said about you being a good stylistic match up for me but I truly believe that, even after your last fight, you didn’t show me anything different. You still mad because I accidentally missed your call…pathetic! Say ‘shut up, I’ll smack the shit out of you’ to my face and see what happens.”

    “Remember The Name” had the final word on the matter in a follow-up post with a short and to the point message.

    Carla Esparza Set To Return At UFC 307 In Utah Against Former Foe

    Former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza is expected to return for the first time since losing her title to Weili Zhang in November of 2022.

    She took the majority of 2023 and 2024 off after giving birth to her son and is now targeted to compete in a rematch at UFC 307 on October 5.

    Esparza and Tecia Pennington first met back on The Ultimate Fighter a decade ago with “Cookie Monster” getting the nod in that quarterfinal clash before going on to win the series.

    MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported the fight which will see both women look to return to the win column for the first time in several years.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

    Georges St-Pierre’s esteemed head coach, Firas Zahabi, recently showered accolades on Belal Muhammad for his tenacious performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304.

    “Remember the Name” dethroned the defending UFC welterweight champion last weekend at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom. This highly anticipated bout was their second encounter, following their initial fight in March 2021, which concluded in a no-contest due to an accidental eye-poke that prevented Muhammad from continuing past the second round.

    Muhammad opened the fight with vigor, swiftly executing a takedown that showcased his superior wrestling skills. His fluid blend of takedowns and sharp boxing set the pace early on. In the second round, the American ramped up his offense, slamming “Rocky” headfirst into the canvas and seizing control of the match.

    Edwards mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth round, unleashing a flurry of potent strikes. However, Muhammad closed the distance and secured another takedown, maintaining dominant control for the majority of the round. The Englishman managed to reverse the position in the final round, raining down a torrent of elbows that inflicted significant damage on Muhammad’s nose, but his relentless assault wasn’t enough to sway the judges’ scorecards in his favor.

    The official scores of the fight were 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, decisively naming “Remember the Name” as the new UFC welterweight champion.

    Zahabi believes that Muhammad deployed an impressive array of techniques against Edwards…

    Zahabi Credits Muhammad’s Victory Over Edwards to His Self-Belief

    In a recent video on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, Zahabi analyzed the title fight between Edwards and Muhammad. The esteemed MMA coach lauded the challenger, noting that overcoming a fighter like “Rocky”, known for his exceptional takedown defense, was achievable only through Muhammad’s unwavering confidence in his grappling prowess.

    “His boxing was excellent, and his double leg was even better,” Zahabi said. “The way he locked it up, the way he had his back straight, stunning performance. That’s no easy fight. Leon Edwards ain’t no easy fight. Colby Covington couldn’t take him down. Colby Covington, the guy who’s been wrestling his entire life, the guy who was supposed to be the top wrestler in the UFC, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do it. How come Belal was taking him down over and over again with such belief? Belal has so much belief in his takedowns.”

    Zahabi went on to highlight how “Remember the Name” has improved his skillset to an entirely new level since his first fight against Edwards.

    “That’s a very different Belal Muhammad. I think Leon Edwards really underestimated Belal Muhammad. I really think he underestimated him, which was a huge mistake because Belal has really improved in the last three years. He was a great fighter then; he’s a much better fighter now.”

    With his recent victory, Muhammad extended his impressive unbeaten streak to 11 consecutive fights in the Octagon.

    Although the Chicago native hasn’t yet named an opponent for his first title defense, Shavkat Rakhmonov stands out as the most likely contender.

  • Belal Muhammad Trashes ‘So-Called Experts’ Demetrious Johnson & Kamaru Usman After UFC 304 Win: ‘They Don’t Know What They’re Talking About!’

    Belal Muhammad Trashes ‘So-Called Experts’ Demetrious Johnson & Kamaru Usman After UFC 304 Win: ‘They Don’t Know What They’re Talking About!’

    Belal Muhammad recently hit back at Demetrious Johnson and Kamaru Usman for their dismissive assessments of him following his commanding victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304.

    Muhammad clinched a unanimous decision victory against the reigning UFC welterweight champion in their rematch last weekend at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.

    “Remember the Name” started the fight with a slick takedown, showcasing his wrestling mastery. His effective mix of seamless takedowns and sharp boxing against a formidable opponent like Edwards was unexpected for many. As the fight progressed, Muhammad intensified his aggression, slamming “Rocky” head-on into the canvas with thunderous impact.

    Although the Chicago native faced resistance in the later rounds as Edwards launched a determined rally in the fourth with some potent strikes of his own, Muhammad maintained control for most of the round. In the final frame, the Jamaican-born Englishman managed to reverse the position, delivering a relentless storm of elbows that caused a gash on Muhammad’s nose.

    Despite this, “Remember the Name” stayed resolute, having already impressed the judges enough to clinch the win. Now, Muhammad has a wealth of words for those who questioned his abilities…

    Muhammad Triumphs Over Edwards with Bold Mentality Amidst Doubts

    During a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian Podcast, Muhammad looked back on his triumphant moment against Edwards at UFC 304. Entering the bout, the newly crowned welterweight champion was met with skepticism, particularly from former UFC champions Usman and Johnson, who doubted his chances against the striking-focused “Rocky.”

    Now that Muhammad has emerged victorious over Edwards, he hasn’t held back in addressing his critics.

    “I just want to be like, ‘I told you so,’ to all the people out there who sit there and act like they’re so-called experts,” Muhammad said. “Even these fighters—like Demetrious Johnson, who thinks he’s a great analyst; he sucks. Usman sucks at analyzing stuff. All these guys, they don’t know what they’re talking about. When you get into the cage with me, it’s different.

    You think it’s slow, then you get punched in the face, and you realize it’s fast. You think I don’t hit hard, then you get hit in the mouth and back down. ‘Yeah, if Leon Edwards wasn’t getting hurt, he would have stepped forward the whole time and planted his feet. But he was getting punched in the mouth, he was getting hurt, and he was backing up to the cage like a coward.”

    Muhammad is expected to return to the Octagon for his first title defense against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, who made his intentions clear by calling for a championship opportunity right after UFC 304.

  • Old Video Shows Belal Muhammad’s Eerily Accurately Prediction Of How He Would ‘Break’ Leon Edwards At UFC 304

    Old Video Shows Belal Muhammad’s Eerily Accurately Prediction Of How He Would ‘Break’ Leon Edwards At UFC 304

    Belal Muhammad became the UFC welterweight champion this past weekend after convincingly beating Leon Edwards as the underdog.

    Many expected that the champion would defend his title on home soil based on what we have seen from both men in their previous fights.

    Whilst Muhammad has been able to dominate opponents with his constant pressure and wrestling, this is something that “Rocky” has been able to deal with as of late.

    However, in an old video that has recently resurfaced, Muhammad broke down why his fight with Edwards would be different to the ones the Brit had with Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.

    Belal Muhammad Correctly Predicts Multiple Aspects Of UFC 304 Title Shot Before It Was Made Official

    Speaking in an interview with MMA Fighting, Muhammad very accurately predicted what would happen in the main event of UFC 304 long before that date was confirmed.

    He spoke about where he believes Edwards is beatable and why his style would be able to capitalize on what Usman and Covington couldn’t.

    Muhammad also gave his take on Edwards’ corner which ended up being very similar to what happened this past weekend.

    “When you look at stylistically of why they thought Colby would be a bad match-up for him, it was cardio, it was pressure, it was taking him down, keeping volume in his face and I do all those better than Colby. I do all those better than Usman. Usman in that third fight, he wasn’t the same Usman. People can say whatever they want. I think he came back too soon for that head kick.

    “But in that second fight, it was volume, pressure, and it was breaking Leon and Leon’s easily broken. I think that’s why when you see in between rounds, his coaches, his team, they’re all like, they’re not giving him advice right? They’re not telling him, ‘Oh yes, on the outside jab.’ No, they’re like, ‘You’re looking beautiful Leon, You’re a beast Leon, Don’t let him bully you son.’”

    It was a bad night at the office for the former welterweight champion and as proven by this interview, Muhammad was able to do exactly what he intended.

    “Once he starts getting on his back foot, he starts breaking. Once he stars getting taken down, he starts breaking. Once he starts getting hit, he hates it. So the last two fights that he’s had, it’s been more so let me stay on the outside, let me keep the pace at what I like it at… when I’m in there, it’s not going to be that at all.”

    Read also: Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

  • Stephen Thompson Gives Glowing Review Of Belal Muhammad’s Striking At UFC 304: ‘He Was Piecing Edwards Up!’ 

    Stephen Thompson Gives Glowing Review Of Belal Muhammad’s Striking At UFC 304: ‘He Was Piecing Edwards Up!’ 

    UFC welterweight veteran Stephen Thompson was impressed by what he saw from his former opponent Belal Muhammad on the feet this past weekend.

    Muhammad emerged from enemy territory with the 170-pound championship in his possession after upsetting the odds to bring Leon Edwards’ reign to a sudden halt at the UFC 304 pay-per-view.

    Headlining the event, which played out inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, “Remember the Name” made good on his frequent vows to dominate “Rocky” in their rematch.

    For large parts of their contest, Muhammad utilized his takedowns and smothering wrestling game to control Edwards. But it wasn’t just on the ground where he put in solid work.

    Amid laughter regarding the challenger and his team’s striking confidence, Muhammad showed clear development in that area, and he even appeared to have the champ hurt in some exchanges.

    Thompson Highlights Where Muhammad Had Surprising Striking Success Against Edwards

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Stephen Thompson broke down the UFC 304 headliner between Edwards and Muhammad round by round.

    As one of the division’s top strikers, a mantle he’s long shared alongside the likes of “Rocky,” the former two-time title challenger played close attention to the standup exchanges between the pair.

    In that realm, Muhammad certainly went above and beyond expectation, and “Wonderboy” puts that down to three main techniques.

    “In the beginning, there was a few striking exchanges. This was something I also noticed in the third round. Three techniques, striking techniques, that really showcased Belal’s striking and really showed his dominance in this fight,” Thompson said. “Number one, Belal Muhammad’s jab. He was piecing him (Edwards) up with that jab! It was so fast. Leon Edwards had a hard time dealing with it, man.

    “When Leon decided to jab back, it was the second technique that really frustrated Leon Edwards, and that was his check hook. Normally you don’t see that from the shorter opponent. … Every time Leon Edwards would jab, Belal Muhammad would come over the top of that jab with the check hook, landing that check left hook, which is super frustrating (to be on the receiving end of),” Thompson continued. “And the third technique was his uppercut. He was uppercutting the crap out of Leon Edwards the entire fight.”

    Muhammad was quick to comment on his striking display in the aftermath of the UFC 304 headliner, poking fun at those who had mocked his coach’s comparison to Canelo Álvarez’s Mexican-style boxing.

    “Remember the Name” will now look to showcase similar skills and development in that area when he returns to the Octagon, with the expectation being that he’ll defend the belt for the first time against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.