Tag: belal muhammad

Belal Muhammad Says Trash Talk From Fans At UFC 304 Only Motivated Him More: ‘I’m From The South Side Of Chicago!’ 

Newly crowned UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad says hostility from fans only aided in his successful pursuit of gold this past weekend. Muhammad emerged from enemy territory with the 170-pound title in his possession, having headlined the UFC 304 pay-per-view alongside Leon Edwards at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England. Against the odds and predictions […]

Continue Reading Belal Muhammad Says Trash Talk From Fans At UFC 304 Only Motivated Him More: ‘I’m From The South Side Of Chicago!’  at MMA News.

Newly crowned UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad says hostility from fans only aided in his successful pursuit of gold this past weekend.

Muhammad emerged from enemy territory with the 170-pound title in his possession, having headlined the UFC 304 pay-per-view alongside Leon Edwards at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

Against the odds and predictions of many fans, pundits, and fellow fighters alike, Muhammad made good on his vows to dominate “Rocky” in his own backyard, utilizing his grappling to secure large periods of control and finding success on the feet too.

With that, “Remember the Name” was able to silence a crowd that didn’t shy away from letting him know their feelings as he made his way to the Octagon. That trend was also visible last week at the press conference and ceremonial weigh-ins.

While some may be negatively affected by such a reception, Muhammad says it was ideal…

Muhammad Relished UFC 304 Boos: ‘I Want That Energy’

During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports, Muhammad reflected on his experience competing in front of a hostile Manchester crowd.

While Muhammad had downplayed the support Edwards had in the UK, “Remember the Name” was seemingly pleased to be on the receiving end of heavy boos during fight week events and his UFC 304 walkout.

“Honestly, I liked it. It was motivation,” Muhammad said. “I like to get booed. I want that energy. Like I said, I’ve been doubted my whole career. Those boos, they only push me to go harder.

“I’m from like, the south side of Chicago, so I’m not afraid of like, altercations or people talking trash to me. I love that type of energy,” Muhammad continued. “When they’re talking trash to me or I get an opponent I can talk trash to, those are the best kind of fights for me.”

Having proved plenty wrong with his ascent to top spot at 170 pounds, Muhammad will now turn his attention to cementing his grip on that crown and beginning the pursuit of another.

This week, Muhammad debuted in the pound-for-pound rankings at #6, just behind featherweight champ Ilia Topuria and bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley. With some title defenses down the line, “Remember the Name” will hope to further climb that pecking order.

Continue Reading Belal Muhammad Says Trash Talk From Fans At UFC 304 Only Motivated Him More: ‘I’m From The South Side Of Chicago!’  at MMA News.

Shavkat Rakhmonov demands title shot against Belal Muhammad: “Keep your word”

Shavkat Rakhmonov demands title shot against Belal Muhammad: "Keep your word"Before the belt was even wrapped around Belal Muhammad’s waist, Shavkat Rakhmonov was shooting his shot on social media….

Shavkat Rakhmonov demands title shot against Belal Muhammad: "Keep your word"

Before the belt was even wrapped around Belal Muhammad’s waist, Shavkat Rakhmonov was shooting his shot on social media.

The UFC’s return to Manchester on Saturday night saw the rise of a new welterweight world champion as ‘Remember The Name’ delivered a mostly dominant performance against Leon Edwards in the UFC 304 headliner.

Belal Muhammad

Almost immediately following his unanimous decision victory over ‘Rocky,’ the division’s No. 3 ranked contender called for the first crack at Muhammad’s new hardware.

Shavkat

“Congratulations on your well-deserved victory, @bullyb170! I hope you keep your word and defend your title against me when you’re ready, champ,” Rakhmonov wrote on X.

Nomad’ is a perfect 18-0 in his mixed martial arts career, his last six wins coming inside the Octagon. Perhaps even more impressive is that Rakhmonov boasts a 100% finish rate, choking out Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson in his last three outings.

Shavkat

Belal Muhammad welcomes Shavkat Rakhmonov’s challenge

Never one to back down from a challenge, Belal Muhammad gladly accepted Rakhmonov’s challenge as a first step toward establishing himself as the greatest welterweight of all time.

“Yeah, of course,” Muhammad said on fighting Rakhmonov at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference. “I’ve literally never turned down a fight. I’ve never backed down from anybody. I had so many people turn down fights against me so, now I’m at the top. I’m the man and for me, now it’s cementing my legacy as the best welterweight to ever do it.

“I’m not going to sit there and call out these random guys. Who’s next in line, who’s best in line. I’m going to show you who I am, what I can do. They thought Leon could walk through me, now I’m going to walk through all these other guys” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Bully B’ extended his unbeaten streak to 10 while simultaneously snapping Leon Edwards‘ undefeated run that began all the way back in May 2016.

Belal Muhammad on Sean Strickland “He’s a fake guy. Acts crazy for the internet for the clout”

Belal Muhammad had some choice words for Sean Strickland this past weekend. During the UFC 304 fight festivities, in which ‘Remember the Name’ was able to capture the welterweight title, Muhammad answered a few questions against the former…

Belal Muhammad Sean Strickland

Belal Muhammad had some choice words for Sean Strickland this past weekend. During the UFC 304 fight festivities, in which ‘Remember the Name’ was able to capture the welterweight title, Muhammad answered a few questions against the former middleweight champion Strickland.

Belal Muhammad on Sean Strickland

The US-born Belal Muhammad is currently on an 11-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC’s welterweight division. Live from Manchester, England, in the main event of UFC 304, the 36-year-old athlete was able to earn the welterweight title when he defeated Leon Edwards by a dominant unanimous decision.

The California-born Strickland picked up the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya in 2023, and would later lose this crown to Dricus du Plessis. Most recently, the 33-year-old athlete is coming off of a forgettable match against Paulo Costa. While he is a professional fighter, he is best known for trying to be an outspoken personality and being friends with social media influencer Nina-Marie Daniele.

Ahead of UFC 304, Strickland said, “Belal looks like why I have to take my shoes off in airports…”

“He’s [Strickland] not really worth my time,” Belal Muhammad said, “Unless he wants to fight in the cage, which we’ve offered multiple times. So many people look at him and they think he’s just a crazy guy. He’s a fake guy. Acts crazy for the internet, for the clout, but he goes back home and sits there and Saturday night cartoons.”

Remember the Name’ added that he would be willing to face him if Sean Strickland were to win the middleweight title and that he would “Slap him around the cage for free.

Belal Muhammad on Sean Strickland “He’s a fake guy. Acts crazy for the internet for the clout”

Belal Muhammad had some choice words for Sean Strickland this past weekend. During the UFC 304 fight festivities, in which ‘Remember the Name’ was able to capture the welterweight title, Muhammad answered a few questions against the former…

Belal Muhammad Sean Strickland

Belal Muhammad had some choice words for Sean Strickland this past weekend. During the UFC 304 fight festivities, in which ‘Remember the Name’ was able to capture the welterweight title, Muhammad answered a few questions against the former middleweight champion Strickland.

Belal Muhammad on Sean Strickland

The US-born Belal Muhammad is currently on an 11-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC’s welterweight division. Live from Manchester, England, in the main event of UFC 304, the 36-year-old athlete was able to earn the welterweight title when he defeated Leon Edwards by a dominant unanimous decision.

The California-born Strickland picked up the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya in 2023, and would later lose this crown to Dricus du Plessis. Most recently, the 33-year-old athlete is coming off of a forgettable match against Paulo Costa. While he is a professional fighter, he is best known for trying to be an outspoken personality and being friends with social media influencer Nina-Marie Daniele.

Ahead of UFC 304, Strickland said, “Belal looks like why I have to take my shoes off in airports…”

“He’s [Strickland] not really worth my time,” Belal Muhammad said, “Unless he wants to fight in the cage, which we’ve offered multiple times. So many people look at him and they think he’s just a crazy guy. He’s a fake guy. Acts crazy for the internet, for the clout, but he goes back home and sits there and Saturday night cartoons.”

Remember the Name’ added that he would be willing to face him if Sean Strickland were to win the middleweight title and that he would “Slap him around the cage for free.

Welterweight Champ Belal Muhammad wants Dricus du Plessis: “Smack him around, try to get two belts.”

Belal Muhammad looking to 'torture' Leon Edwards at UFC 304Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is hopeful to eventually fight Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title….

Belal Muhammad looking to 'torture' Leon Edwards at UFC 304

Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is hopeful to eventually fight Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title.

Muhammad scored an upset win over Edwards in the main event of UFC 304 on Saturday in Manchester to win the welterweight title. It was a stunning performance from Muhammad and after the win, he called out du Plessis as he eventually wants to be a champ-champ.

“I just want to be the guy that did everything you said I couldn’t do. Then if we go up and if, what’s his name, Dricus [Du Plessis] still has the title, he beats, what’s his face, [Israel] Adesanysa, he was trying to talk tough to me, I’ll go smack him around, try to get two belts,” Muhammad said after UFC 304, via Sportskeeda.

Although he would be open to fighting du Plessis, Belal Muhammad makes it clear he is looking to defend his multiple times. Muhammad mentions Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry, and Jack Della Maddalena to prove he is that good.

“I think beating this next generation of guys,” Muhammad said, via MMAFighting. “You have Shavkat, you have Ian Garry, you have ‘JDM.’ So there’s these young up-and-comers that everybody’s saying are killers. They’re probably still saying these guys are going to kill me next, right? So if I go out there and I walk through all these guys and then I beat the old generation, there’s really — I just want to be the guy that did everything that you said I couldn’t do.”

Belal Muhammad doesn’t think Leon Edwards should get an immediate rematch

After the win at UFC 304, Belal Muhammad made it clear that Leon Edwards should not get an immediate rematch.

Muhammad believes how dominant the fight was should rule out an immediate rematch, as he thinks Edwards will need to work his way back up.

“Yeah, I’ll give him a rematch in three years,” Muhammad said. “Let him work his way back up. I think it was a dominant fight. There’s really no need for a rematch and I don’t think he had that long reign of a champion where he’s entitled to a rematch. For me, I came to his hometown in front of his people and in enemy territory, so it was all a layup for him. But I blocked it.”

Ultimately, it is likely Muhammad’s first title defense will be against Rakhmonov.

Israel Adesanya Reacts To Belal Muhammad’s Title Win Over Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘I’m A Fan Now!’

Belal Muhammad earned at least one new supporter in the form of Israel Adesanya thanks to his championship crowning at UFC 304. Muhammad upset the odds against home country favorite Leon Edwards to emerge from this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Manchester, England, with the welterweight title in his possession. Amid doubt from plenty in […]

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya Reacts To Belal Muhammad’s Title Win Over Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘I’m A Fan Now!’ at MMA News.

Belal Muhammad earned at least one new supporter in the form of Israel Adesanya thanks to his championship crowning at UFC 304.

Muhammad upset the odds against home country favorite Leon Edwards to emerge from this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Manchester, England, with the welterweight title in his possession.

Amid doubt from plenty in the MMA community, “Remember the Name” vowed to unseat “Rocky” with a dominant and one-sided display at the Co-op Live. He achieved that feat against most pre-fight predictions, avoiding a few scares across five rounds to secure a convincing victory on the scorecards.

The new champ quickly began his ‘I told you so’ tour in the aftermath of his title win, and among those who could expect a visit given their pre-UFC 304 thoughts on Muhammad’s chances is former two-time middleweight champ Adesanya…

Adesanya Will ‘Remember The Name’ After Muhammad’s UFC 304 Triumph

During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reacted live to the major matchups that played out in the UK this past weekend.

During UFC 304 fight week, “The Last Stylebender” laid his support behind Edwards, a friend of his who is managed by the same team. Adesanya predicted that “Rocky” would simply have too much for the challenger.

Having been proved wrong, the Nigerian-New Zealander had nothing but praise for the victorious Muhammad, noting that he is now a fan of the newly crowned welterweight kingpin.

“He put him on his head! Bro, that rocked him. His head, that was bad. Look at it. That’s bad, bro! Spiked him,” Adesanya said after Muhammad dropped Edwards on his head. “Jesus Christ, Belal. Even if he loses this fight, I’m a fan of him now. I knew his name, of course, but I’ll remember the name.

“Bro, what the f*ck. Yo, Belal’s nice. What Michael (Bisping) just said; he’s fighting fearlessly. He’s fighting in Leon’s home country, coming for his belt, and fighting like this,” Adesanya continued. “Leon knows. But that, what a rally at the end though. … What a story though, Belal, to do that after coming back from the eye poke, now this in his (Edwards’) backyard. Everybody doubting him, including me. Give it up to him, what a story.”

Adesanya certainly doesn’t mark the only doubter whom Muhammad proved wrong on fight night in Manchester. “Remember the Name” made good on his promise to dominate the champ in his backyard — a prediction that not many had entertained pre-fight.

Having extended his unbeaten streak and completed his goal of having the gold wrapped around his waist, Muhammad will now turn his attention to a first defense and beginning to build his championship legacy.

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya Reacts To Belal Muhammad’s Title Win Over Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘I’m A Fan Now!’ at MMA News.