UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was among those roasting the polarizing Colby Covington after his latest defeat. Saturday proved to be a difficult night for Covington, as the former interim titleholder returned to action for the first time since a third failed bid at securing the undisputed crown against Leon Edwards last December. In his […]
UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was among those roasting the polarizing Colby Covington after his latest defeat.
Saturday proved to be a difficult night for Covington, as the former interim titleholder returned to action for the first time since a third failed bid at securing the undisputed crown against Leon Edwards last December.
In his push to reinsert himself into the championship equation, “Chaos” accepted a short-notice UFC Fight Night headliner opposite the charging Joaquin Buckley in Tampa, looking to hand “New Mansa” his first loss since dropping to the division.
While a cut caused the bout’s end, there was little doubt over who was having the better of things. That, unsurprisingly, brought out Covington’s sizable group of enemies and detractors.
As expected, champ Muhammad was among those enjoying the result…
man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks
“(laughing) man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks,” Muhammad wrote on X.
Muhammad and Covington have frequently gone back and forth across recent years.
But with the former on the throne following his win over Edwards this past July and the latter far from challenging for it again post-UFC Tampa, it would appear that the chances of the pair settling their score inside the cage are now slim.
Colby Covington is a polarizing figure in the UFC welterweight division, has once again stirred controversy with offensive comments…
Colby Covington is a polarizing figure in the UFC welterweight division, has once again stirred controversy with offensive comments aimed at Belal Muhammad, the current division champion who is Palestinian-American. Covington, known for his brash persona and trash talk, accused Muhammad of wearing a “pager on his foot” that allegedly exploded, causing him to withdraw from a fight.
Colby Covington on Belal Muhammad
In a recent statement, Covington commented on Muhammad’s withdrawal from his fight, claiming, “I called the UFC when Belal had a pager on his foot, and he backed out ’cause I guess the pager exploded on his ankle and messed up his toe, which is just weird. You guys need to ask Belal why he is wearing a pager around his ankle. That’s just weird.” These words, though masked as trash talk, have drawn widespread criticism for their Islamophobic implications.
Covington’s remarks cannot be separated from the broader geopolitical context. On September 17, 2024, an incident occurred when pagers distributed to Hezbollah operatives exploded simultaneously across Lebanon and Syria. The explosion, which resulted in numerous casualties, was allegedly the work of Israeli intelligence. While Covington’s comments seem to reference this event, they do so in a manner that links Muhammad to terrorism, using a stereotype that Muslim individuals are linked to violence and extremism.
Covington’s behavior is not new. Throughout his career, he has made headlines for pushing the boundaries of trash talk, often crossing the line into offensive and hate-filled rhetoric, often against black athletes. However, this latest incident takes his words into dangerous territory, invoking Islamophobic stereotypes to make a cheap point.
It’s crazy how Colby Covington can go to a UFC press conference & openly call Belal Muhammad a terrorist just because he’s Muslim & not a single media outlet writes an article about it
“Colby Covington’s remarks against Belal Muhammad reflect a broader pattern of prejudice. In an era where athletes are increasingly using their platforms for social good, Covington’s words stand in stark contrast and perpetuate hatred. Colby Covington lobbies disgusting Islamaphobic attack against Belal Muhammad claiming “he pulled out because a pager exploded on his ankle” Colby is such a disgrace but this really highlights his desperation to stay relevant.”
Colby Covington lobbies disgusting Islamaphobic attack against Belal Muhammad claiming “he pulled out because a pager exploded on his ankle”
Colby is such a disgrace but this really highlights his desperation to stay relevant pic.twitter.com/Bewu5kv1BW
UFC welterweight Michael “Venom” Page believes Shavkat Rakhmonov will have to be a lot better than he was this past weekend if he’s to successfully dethrone Belal Muhammad. Rakhmonov successfully defended his top contender status at the UFC 310 pay-per-view on Dec. 7, a date that was originally set to mark his first title shot […]
UFC welterweight Michael “Venom” Page believes Shavkat Rakhmonov will have to be a lot better than he was this past weekend if he’s to successfully dethrone Belal Muhammad.
Rakhmonov successfully defended his top contender status at the UFC 310 pay-per-view on Dec. 7, a date that was originally set to mark his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
The undefeated Kazakh saw his opportunity fall through when an injury ruled Muhammad out, and he was instead tasked with stalling Ian Garry’s hopes of leapfrogging him to the front of the queue.
The competitive nature of the bout has led many to different conclusions, be it Garry being more elite than some had thought or “Nomad” underperforming.
During a UFC 310 reaction video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Page fell on the latter side of that.
The former Bellator standout suggested that the reigning welterweight champ would have enjoyed a comfortable first title defense opposite the iteration of Rakhmonov that made the walk in Las Vegas this past weekend.
“Shavkat couldn’t get anything. Rakhmonov’s fitness and muscular endurance definitely let him down. His balance seems to be very off. This was definitely, by far, not the best Rakhmonov we’ve seen,” Page said. “Although he’s won it, I think anybody looking at this will look at him like, ‘Yeah, I can beat this guy.’
“Not saying he’s not dangerous. You can see he’s definitely a dangerous person. But this wasn’t good. This wasn’t his best performance,” Page continued. “A hundred percent now, this Shavkat here, if he had fought Belal, Belal was munching him, yamming him for breakfast.”
Had things turned out differently in the summer, “MVP” could have been the one sharing the cage with Rakhmonov at this year’s final PPV. The Londoner was narrowly outpointed by the Irishman at UFC 303 in June, moving him to an even 1-1 record since joining the promotion in late 2023.
Belal Muhammad is probably feeling pretty good about his chances against Shavkat Rakhmonov after seeing ‘Nomad’ go five rounds…
Belal Muhammad is probably feeling pretty good about his chances against Shavkat Rakhmonov after seeing ‘Nomad’ go five rounds at UFC 310.
While Rakhmonov scored his 19th career win in the evening’s co-main event, his clash with Ian Machado Garry left a lot to be desired. Rakhmonov largely dominated the action against the fence and logged nearly 12 minutes of control time en route to a unanimous decision victory, but it was the first time that the Kazakh looked human since UFC fans became familiar with him in 2020.
Looking back on Saturday’s scrap during an appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Paul Felder thinks the reigning welterweight world champion probably got a big boost of confidence after seeing how the title eliminator between Rakhmonov and Garry played out in Las Vegas.
“I think if you’re Belal, you’re pretty happy with either one of those guys winning, right? I mean, they spent a lot of time in the clinch,” Felder said. “There were a lot of moments of inactivity, whereas a guy like Belal Muhammad is going to be relentless in those positions—against the fence, with the takedown attempts.
“Now, I know Shavkat potentially had a pretty bad knee injury that he was dealing with. How badly that affected him, we can’t really know, but he did look a little off to me. But I’m telling you, if I’m the champ, I’m excited for the next matchup with him. I think a lot of times we see when these guys are so scary and get all these finishes, once somebody shows a little bit of weakness in them—shows that there’s a chance to beat them—other guys are very excited at the opportunity. So, I’m excited to see that fight happen.”
Rakhmonov reportedly went into UFC 310 with a pre-existing injury
With the win, Rakhmonov is expected to be the first man to challenge Muhammad after ‘Remember The Name’ scored a decisive decision win over ex-champion Leon Edwards earlier this year in Manchester. Originally, Muhammad had hoped to defend his title at UFC 310, but a bone infection in his foot forced him to bow out of the bout.
“If I’m Belal Muhammad, I’m actually kind of happy watching this fight tonight because Shavkat Rakhmonov did not look like himself even though I learned after that he had an injury,” Cormier said in a video on his YouTube channel. “I think he might have tore his MCL going into the fight. Granted, with a torn ligament in your knee you’re not going to look like the killer that you looked like in fights prior.”
No details have been revealed regarding the extent of the injury or how long it could put Rakhmonov on the shelf, but he is expected to undergo an MRI this week.
Belal Muhammad, the UFC’s welterweight champion, is using his platform to shed light on the ongoing suffering of Palestinians,…
Belal Muhammad, the UFC’s welterweight champion, is using his platform to shed light on the ongoing suffering of Palestinians, drawing attention to the catastrophic impact of the conflict. As the first UFC fighter of Palestinian descent to secure a championship title, Muhammad’s victory in July 2024 at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, was a historic moment for his heritage. But for Muhammad, it was an opportunity to represent Palestine on the global stage.
Voice for Palestine’s Suffering
Born in Chicago to Palestinian immigrant parents, Belal Muhammad has long been outspoken about the struggles faced by the Palestinian people. Following his win, he dedicated his title to his family and to Palestine, stressing the urgency of global attention to the pain of the Palestinian people. “It took me the long road, but they did give it to me, right? So I just had to make the most of it. And now, being the champion, now I just got to represent, and I just got to show the people of Palestine, you know, that they have a champion now,” Muhammad said in a recent interview.
Belal Muhammad Stands for Palestine Amid Crisis
His words are a cold reminder of the ongoing violence in Gaza, where Palestinian civilians, including children, are suffering at an alarming rate. “It’s crazy how much they don’t care about kids dying, you know? These are women, children, men—it doesn’t even matter where they’re from or what they’re doing,” Muhammad continued. “It’s like we’re showing you. You’re seeing it every single day on Twitter, on Instagram, on social media.”
Story of Jude
Muhammad shared an emotional story about Jude, a young boy who now lives with his family after surviving an attack. The child was seen in a viral video wearing a Spider-Man shirt, his knee badly injured, as his mother died protecting him. “But I’m like, this is a real kid. Here is a kid now,” Muhammad said, reflecting on the human toll of the conflict. Jude now lives with Belal Muhammad.
The Devastating Impact
The tragedy is not limited to individuals like Jude. Since October 2023, nearly 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with the majority of victims being women and children. The ongoing violence has not only claimed lives but also destroyed homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods. The United Nations reports that over 7,000 minors and nearly 5,000 women have died as a result of the conflict, with children aged 5-9 suffering the most. The crisis has displaced countless civilians, with many now living in overcrowded conditions in a tiny fraction of Gaza’s territory, facing hunger, trauma, and the loss of access to education.
Belal Muhammad’s victory came at a time when the Palestinian community, particularly athletes, had been impacted by the violence. Since the conflict escalated, reports indicate that nearly 400 Palestinian athletes have lost their lives. Muhammad’s platform has allowed him to draw attention to the plight of these victims.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JULY 26: Belal Muhammad poses on the scale during the UFC 304 ceremonial weigh-in at Co-op Live on July 26, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
For Belal Muhammad, this is s about standing up for what is right and ensuring that the world does not turn a blind eye to the ongoing pain of Palestine. Muhammad remains steadfast in his mission to ensure that Palestine’s suffering is not forgotten.
“[The conflict] literally has nothing to do with religion, it has to do with humanity. People are literally dying and people are losing their homes. You show a picture of kids dying and I get so many comments like, ‘What about Hamas?’ Bro, you think this 3-year-old kid that just got bombed and killed is Hamas? People look for keywords, trigger words that will get other trolls that just comment on your thing to get a rise out of you.”
UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad pondered drastic measures in a bid to keep his scheduled title defense at the final pay-per-view of 2024 intact. Saturday will see Muhammad’s next opponent in 2025 decided, as undefeated contenders Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry do battle in the co-main event of UFC 310 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. […]
UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad pondered drastic measures in a bid to keep his scheduled title defense at the final pay-per-view of 2024 intact.
For Rakhmonov, the bout will see him attempt to regain his status as number one contender. The Kazakh star had already earned his shot at UFC gold and was set to challenge Muhammad in the Dec. 7 headliner.
Last month, however, disaster struck when a bone infection to the champ’s toe hospitalized him and forced a change of plans.
If Muhammad’s frustration at the cancellation wasn’t clear enough, a recent revelation surrounding the lengths he was willing to go to make the walk at UFC 310 should do the trick…
During an interview with MMA Junkie on the red carpet for the annual World MMA Awards, Muhammad revealed that he enquired about having the infected toe removed to speed up the recovery process.
“It got to the point where I was like, ‘Bro, what if you got rid of the toe? What do I need to do to get back in there as quickly as possible?’” Muhammad said. “But the way the doctor was saying it, it was like a bone infection. So it wasn’t like people were saying, ‘Oh, you got a broken toe.’ I’m like, bro, if it was a toe? I had a broken toe for over a year.
“And then that toe got infected because of that, so that went directly into the bone and it was climbing up the foot. So he was like, ‘Bro, you’ll get your foot amputated.’ It ain’t that. So for me it’s like, it was heartbreaking obviously, but just trusting God, trusting God has a plan for me, knowing that everything happens for a reason. And now that I look at it from a bigger picture side, I’m hoping that there’s a reason for it.”
That ultimately wasn’t a possibility, forcing Muhammad to bite the bullet and put a delay to his first defense of the 170-pound title.
“Remember the Name” captured champ status with a dominant display against the odds this past July in Manchester, where he comfortably outpointed Leon Edwards across five rounds.
With many backing Rakhmonov to get past Garry this weekend before unseating Muhammad, the reigning kingpin will look to once again prove his doubters wrong when he returns to full fitness.
man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks
man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks
Colby Covington is a polarizing figure in the UFC welterweight division, has once again stirred controversy with offensive comments…
Belal Muhammad is probably feeling pretty good about his chances against Shavkat Rakhmonov after seeing ‘Nomad’ go five rounds…
Belal Muhammad, the UFC’s welterweight champion, is using his platform to shed light on the ongoing suffering of Palestinians,…