Belal Muhammad went to Dagestan to train with the “Michael Jordan” of MMA.
“Remember the Name” is hoping time spent with Khabib Nurmagomedov will help lead him to victory in the UFC 304 pay-per-view (PPV) main event this Sat. night (July 27, 2024) at Co-op Live in Manchester, where Muhammad battles reigning 170-pound titleholder Leon Edwards.
“It benefits me everywhere, right? Physically, mentally, spiritually. It just puts me on another level,” Muhammad told CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri. “Training with [Khabib] and getting advice from him is worth 20, 30, 40, 50 days with anybody else. Just being able to feel his strength, feel his pressure, feel his knowledge, too, that he gives you, and to have him give me advice and what he thinks I should be doing, what I should be doing for this fight and breaking down Leon and telling me what the game plan he thinks should be.”
Nurmagomedov, a retired lightweight champion, walked away from MMA with a perfect 29-0 record boasting 19 finishes. A national poll previously named Nurmagomedov “Best Athlete in Russia,” which only bolsters this claim from UFC color commentator Joe Rogan.
“The knowledge is endless, because to me, I think he’s the GOAT of the MMA world in the UFC and just like a brother and that I could message and ask, and anytime I send a question, he’ll respond,” Muhammad continued. “So, it’s just literally priceless to have that guy in my life. There’s no hidden juice, hidden secret with the whole thing with them. Their team is just all about hard work. It’s just about overworking. And then when Khabib gets there, it’s twice the overwork and it’s twice the push. It’s a different level.”
A level that helped lead this teammate to a world title.
Edwards (22-3, 1 NC) battled Muhammad to a “No Contest” back in early 2021, a fight that ended prematurely due to an accidental eye poke. In the three years since their first meeting, Edwards has won four straight, capturing the division title along the way. As for Muhammad (23-3, 1 NC) he’s a perfect 5-0 since their initial encounter, having recently disposed of Gilbert Burns at UFC 288.
For the rest of the UFC 304 fight card and PPV lineup click here.