belal muhammad | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

Shavkat Rakhmonov campaigns for UFC title fight next: ‘There should be no question’

Shavkat Rakhmonov campaigns for UFC title fight next: 'There should be no question' Unbeaten welterweight contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov has staked his claim for a title shot at 170lbs next ahead of other…

Unbeaten welterweight contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov has staked his claim for a title shot at 170lbs next ahead of other contenders, pointing to his stunning 100% finish rate and undefeated streaks — as the main reason he should battle newly-minted champion, Belal Muhammad next.

Rakhmonov, the current number three ranked divisional contender, most recently featured back in December of last year on the main card of UFC 296, improving to 18-0 with a stunning second round rear-naked choke win over two-time title challenger, Stephen Thompson.

As for Muhammad, the streaking Illinois native sprung a massive title fight upset at the end of July in Manchester, ending the run of two-time foe, Leon Edwards in a unanimous decision shutout win at UFC 304 in his first championship charge under the banner of the organization.

And while Shavkat Rakhmonov has yet to be booked for his next outing amid links to a definitive title eliminator against Australian fan-favorite, Jack Della Maddalena, the Uzbekistan-born challenger has been weighed up as a challenge to Muhammad next — alongside former champion, Kamaru Usman.

Shavkat Rakhmonov vows to take on Belal Muhammad next

However, staking his claim for a showdown with the new champion next, Rakhmonov took to his social media today, claiming his winning spree should land him a charge against Muhammad before any other challenger.

“18-0 with 100% finishes or 0-3 in the last three fights,” Shavkat Rakhmonov posted on his X account, poking fun at the recent run of former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman. “I think there should be no question who fights next for the title.”

In the midst of a three-fight losing skid against common-foe, Edwards, and the unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev, Usman has staked his claim for a grudge fight with Muhammad — who name-dropped a fight with the Nigerian veteran in a bid to bolster his claim as champion, in a self-labelled legacy championship fight for himself.

Jack Della Maddalena vows to finish Belal Muhammad in future fight: ‘I put him down early’

Surging welterweight contender, Jack Della Maddalena may have missed out on a return to action tonight at UFC 305…

Surging welterweight contender, Jack Della Maddalena may have missed out on a return to action tonight at UFC 305 due to an arm injury, however, the Australian star claims he would likely dispatch newly-minted champion, Belal Muhammad early if afforded the chance to fight him soon.

Della Maddalena, the current number five ranked welterweight contender, has been sidelined from action since he featured at UFC 299 back in March, stopping former title challenger, Gilbert Burns in a third round KO win to earn himself a Performance of the Night bonus.

As for Muhammad, the surging welterweight star managed to land the undisputed divisional crown in the main event of UFC 304 at the end of last month in Manchester, rematching Leon Edwards and landing an outstanding unanimous decision victory over the Birmingham native.

Jack Della Maddalena vows to stop Belal Muhammad early

And sidelined through arm surgery from a comeback fight in his native Australia this weekend, Della Maddalena plotted his way to a title fight with Illinois native, Muhammad next – vowing to stop him with ease rather early on, to boot.

“Yeah I think 2025, Belal (Muhammad’s) is going down – with this left hand,” Jack Della Maddalena said during a fan Q&A ahead of UFC 305 tonight. “I’d love to fight someone that’s in front of me. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Colby Covington, or Kamaru Usman.”

“Yeah, I think I’d put him down, you know,” Jack Della Maddalena said of Muhammad. “Pretty early really – done in one. No doubt.”

During his run to the top-5 in the division, Perth hometown favorite, Della Maddalena has landed seven consecutive wins in the promotion – following an impressive outing on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Of note in the promotion, Della Maddalena has beaten the likes of the above-mentioned, Burns, Kevin Holland, Randy Brown, Danny Roberts, and Ramazan Emeev to name a few.

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, […]

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

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.

It’s fight week #ufc302 @MAKHACHEVMMA pic.twitter.com/3m6NkZviWE

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) May 28, 2024

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

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

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 […]

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

“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.

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

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

Belal Muhammad Rips ‘Coward’ Colby Covington: ‘Biggest Clown in the UFC’

Belal Muhammad is more than happy to face anyone the promotion puts in front of him. Except for Colby…

Belal Muhammad is more than happy to face anyone the promotion puts in front of him. Except for Colby Covington.

‘RememberThe Name’ delivered a dominant five-round performance against Leon Edwards in Manchester last month, leaving with the welterweight world title wrapped around his waist.

Without missing a beat, the failed three-time UFC title challenger immediately went to work on social media, slamming Muhammad and fishing for another undeserved shot at UFC gold.

“It’s funny. He’s literally the biggest clown in the UFC,” Muhammad told MMA Fighting. “It’s embarrassing to see how he’s trying to grasp for any sort of attention and say anything. ‘Let me catch him outside.’ Bro, I wish I see you outside. Let’s see what you would do. I literally called him out since 2017 when I fought in Australia. This guy’s a coward.

“But that’s what he does. He shied away from that Ian Garry fight. He said it wasn’t worth his time. If he would have won that fight, his name could have been right back in the mix. So now he looks dumb. He’s a clown. I’m wondering what he’s going to do next.

“There’s nobody out there that I see him saying yes to. He’s going to wait and hope that Tony Ferguson comes back and fights one more fight and then he’s going to win that and say, ‘See I deserve to be in there, look what I just did to Tony Ferguson!’”

Going 2-3 in his last five fights with all three of the losses coming in title fights, it’s hard to imagine ‘Chaos’ weaseling his way into another shot without first picking up a few noteworthy wins in the division.

His latest appearance inside the Octagon delivered dismal results with him being systematically shut down by Leon Edwards over the course of five rounds at UFC 296.

“There’s zero percent chance,” Muhammad said of Covington getting another title shot. “I said he sucked before the Leon Edwards fight and they gifted him the title shot. There’s nobody in the top five that he could beat. There’s nobody in there where I could see him and say, ‘Well, if he beats him, there’s a chance.’

“I don’t see him accepting any top-five fights and I definitely don’t see him beating any top fighters if he gets that chance.”

Belal Muhammad ready to hand Shavkat Rakhmonov his first career loss

Instead, Belal Muhammad would rather focus his attention on some of the legit killers atop the welterweight division. Specifically, undefeated finisher Shavkat Rakhmonov.

“He’s the boogeyman,” Muhammad said of Rakhmonov. “The guy that everyone thinks will dominate everybody. When I look at stylistically what I’ll be able to do to him and what I’ve seen, there’s nothing he shows me where I’m like, ‘Oh man, I’ve got to be afraid of this or that.’ He’s not a specialist anywhere. Obviously, he’s a specialist in finishing, but I’ve only been finished once in my life.”

‘Nomad’ is a perfect 18-0 in his mixed martial arts career with a 100% finish rate. In his last three outings, Rakhmonov has put away Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. He currently sits as the No. 3 ranked contender in the division.

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 […]

Continue Reading Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’ at MMA News.

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.”

Continue Reading Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’ at MMA News.