Former UFC 170-pound champion, Kamaru Usman, is widely-considered one of the greatest welterweights in the history of the promotion, despite starting at just 30 percent and getting booed out of buildings in early 2018.
That’s probably why newly-crowned titleholder, Belal Muhammad, wants to face the “Nigerian Nightmare,” a championship victory that would help bolster the legacy of “Remember the Name” among the all-time greats.
But that doesn’t mean he’s ducking undefeated welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.
“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,” friend and UFC commentator Jon Anik wrote on Twitter. “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.”
Or maybe Muhammad will sit back and let Usman fight Rakhmonov for the top spot.
“Remember the Name” captured the crown with a decision win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 last July in Manchester. UFC CEO Dana White was underwhelmed by the performance (and the event as a whole) but whether or not that affects the matchmaking in Muhammad’s first title defense remains to be seen.