Tag: belal muhammad

Shavkat Rakhmonov Doubts Belal Muhammad Had To Withdraw From UFC 310: ‘I Think He Was Able’ 

Top UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov believes champion Belal Muhammad could have made their planned fight date if he really wanted to. Rakhmonov entered November with a first shot at title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the calendar. The undefeated “Nomad” was booked in as the first challenger in the reign of […]

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Top UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov believes champion Belal Muhammad could have made their planned fight date if he really wanted to.

Rakhmonov entered November with a first shot at title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the calendar. The undefeated “Nomad” was booked in as the first challenger in the reign of Muhammad, which got underway with a dominant display opposite Leon Edwards this past July.

But their UFC 310 main event is no more following an injury to the champ, who revealed this past weekend that he had been hospitalized with a gruesome bone infection that will prevent him from training for the next six weeks.

With that, the Dec. 7 headline spot is in limbo, as is Rakhmonov’s place on the lineup for the promotion’s final pay-per-view of the year.

But the Kazakh contender evidently doesn’t believe this difficult scenario had to come to fruition.

During Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Rakhmonov addressed the current situation, questioning if Muhammad really did have to withdraw.

“I think he was able to fight on Dec. 7, but he wasn’t sure and is being extra careful,” Rakhmonov said. “I was just envisioning myself getting the win and it doesn’t matter how or which way. Belal is a good opponent, but I believe I can work with him in any field. I can counter him, I can pressure him, I just only see my (hand) getting raised in a fight against him.

“I don’t believe it’s going to be six weeks (to recover), to be honest. I believe Jack Della (had) the same problem with infection and he’s still not back. It can take a while,” Rakhmonov continued. “Belal doesn’t need to be greedy. If I become interim champ, he’s still going to have a belt too.”

Nevertheless, should he capture an interim title in Muhammad’s absence, Rakhmonov believes that will only make his eventual showdown with “Remember the Name” even bigger in 2025.

“It’s good for Belal, too. It’s only going to make the fight bigger,” Rakhmonov stated. “Champ vs. champ whenever Belal is ready. Obviously, after I secure the interim title, I’m going to fight him. First quarter of next year I believe is already scheduled and taken so he cannot come back soon, anyway.”

“Nomad” appeared more sympathetic toward his division’s champ soon after news of his injury emerged, taking to social media to wish Muhammad well in his recovery.

The Kazakh fighter can likely now expect some backlash from Muhammad after questioning the serious nature of his bone infection.

Continue Reading Shavkat Rakhmonov Doubts Belal Muhammad Had To Withdraw From UFC 310: ‘I Think He Was Able’  at MMA News.

Belal Muhammad Fires Back at ‘Junkie’ Conor McGregor After UFC 310 Withdrawal Mockery ‘We are not the same’

Belal Muhammad Fires Back at 'Junkie' Conor McGregor After UFC 310 Withdrawal Mockery 'We are not the same'Belal Muhammad didn’t take kindly to being mocked by Conor McGregor. Earlier this week, news broke that ‘Remember The…

Belal Muhammad Fires Back at 'Junkie' Conor McGregor After UFC 310 Withdrawal Mockery 'We are not the same'

Belal Muhammad didn’t take kindly to being mocked by Conor McGregor.

Earlier this week, news broke that ‘Remember The Name’ would no longer defend his welterweight title against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 as advertised. Muhammad later confirmed the report on social media, revealing that he had suffered a bone infection in his foot that would require six weeks of antibiotic treatment.

“Caught a bone infection in my foot .. had to put a picc line in my arm for iv antibiotics the next 6 weeks with no physical activity … Allahs plan is the best plan I’m sorry to everyone that were coming to see me Ill be back soon inshAllah,” Muhammed revealed on X.

Belal Muhammad

Not long after Muhammad confirmed his withdrawal from the final pay-per-view event of the year, former two-division titleholder Conor McGregor chimed in with a pair of laughing emojis to seemingly mock Muhammad’s misfortune.

Belal Muhammad, Conor McGregor

True to form, McGregor quickly deleted the comment, but by then Muhammad had already seen it and was quick to snap back at the Irishman.

“I have this for antibiotics.. you use needles because you are junkie .. we are not the same,” Muhammad replied.

Conor McGregor takes joy in Belal muhammad’s Injury

Never one to let anyone get the last word, McGregor responded to the slight.

Belal Muhammad, Conor McGregor

“Scutter talk just like your fighting,” McGregor wrote. “You lambasted ufc world champions multiple times on having to reschedule their bouts thru injury and now it has come down on you like a bomb from the sky, it is glorious to see! No fight. No money. But staph infection hahahaja LOL! BUM! Stripped! Instantly. Zero Knockdowns/any excitement or traffic or views or ticket sales in bout, and now also non reliable to show? Strip. Cut. Infected fighter. You have infections.”

We’re not sure what’s worse — McGregor laughing at another fighter for suffering a serious infection, or the fact that the Irish megastar is picking a fight with someone over withdrawing from a matchup five months after he pulled out of his UFC 303 headliner against Michael Chandler for, of all things, a broken pinky toe.

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Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event

The UFC has reportedly turned to a familiar face in Alex Pereira after losing its headline attraction for the final pay-per-view event of the year. Reports emerged on Thursday regarding a potential injury suffered by UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, who was booked to headline UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 in defense […]

Continue Reading Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event at MMA News.

The UFC has reportedly turned to a familiar face in Alex Pereira after losing its headline attraction for the final pay-per-view event of the year.

Reports emerged on Thursday regarding a potential injury suffered by UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, who was booked to headline UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 in defense of his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

“Remember the Name” subsequently confirmed the disappointing news on social media, posting an image of a gruesome bone infection that hospitalized him and will keep him out of training for the next six weeks.

With that, the promotion will need to secure a new headline matchup to close out its PPV schedule for 2024. And when it comes to saviors, no one has fit the description in 2024 quite like “Poatan.”

Pereira, a former UFC middleweight champion and the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has had a bumper year inside the Octagon, reeling off three straight title defenses in record-breaking speed to establish himself as one of the sport’s biggest stars.

The manner of his first two defenses only added to the plaudits thrown his way, with Pereira saving the promotion after a struggle to secure a suitable UFC 300 main event and the withdrawal of Conor McGregor from UFC 303 less than three months later.

Having added the name of Khalil Rountree to his reign’s list of victims at UFC 307 earlier this month, it appeared that Pereira would finally be due a long-earned rest.

While that still might be the case, MMA Mania is reporting that “Poatan” has indeed been contacted about headlining UFC 310 against Magomed Ankalaev in light of Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov being off.

The welterweight number one contender seemingly has something to say about that, however. After wishing his injured opponent well on X, “Nomad” called to remain on the UFC 310 card in competition for an interim welterweight strap.

It remains to be seen whether Muhammad will be out for long enough to warrant the creation of another belt. But should no other options come to fruition for the Dec. 7 headline slot, the promotion has previously shown a willingness to add interim belts to the equation in such scenarios.

Continue Reading Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event at MMA News.

Breaking News: Belal Muhammad Pulls Out of UFC 310 Title Defense Against Shavkat Rakhmonov

Belal MuhammadAccording to recent reports, ‘Remember the Name’ Belal Muhammad has withdrawn from his UFC 310 match against Shavkat Rakhmonov….

Belal Muhammad

According to recent reports, ‘Remember the Name’ Belal Muhammad has withdrawn from his UFC 310 match against Shavkat Rakhmonov. This was originally a UFC welterweight title match going down on December 7, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas USA.

Belal Muhammad Withdraws from UFC 310

Online, reports began coming out from journalists Benny P and Al Zullino that the UFC 310 main event is in jeopardy. The UFC has not made an official announcement regarding the December 7 event.

‘Remember the Name’ Belal Muhammad, Palestinian-American, is on a ten-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC. In his most recent fight, he avenged a prior no-contest and took the welterweight crown from Leon Edwards. As of July of 2024, Muhammad is the undisputed UFC welterweight world champion. Additionally, he has defeated notable figures such as Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady, and Stephen Thompson, among others.

‘Nomad’ Shavkat Rakhmonov, of Kazakhstan, earned his shot at the welterweight title by putting together an undefeated record in MMA with a perfect 18 victories. All of his wins have come by way of finish, either submission or KO/TKO. Currently, he is on a three0fight submission win streak against Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal, and Neil Magny.

It is unclear what will be done with the UFC 310 main event. Whether they will push back the title fight to another date or keep Rakhmonov on the card to face another opponent, potentially for an interim title at welterweight.

The December 7 card also has a flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura, and a heavyweight bout featuring Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov, plus Nick Diaz, and Aljamain Sterling, among others.

Belal Muhammad set to defend title in UFC 310 showdown with Shavkat Rakhmonov in December

Report: Belal Muhammad Out Of Shavkat Rakhmonov Title Fight At UFC 310

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad is reportedly out of his scheduled title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. Muhammad completed his ascent to the mountaintop at 170 pounds this past July in Manchester, England, where he upset the odds to get the better of Leon Edwards across five rounds in their rematch. Eager to […]

Continue Reading Report: Belal Muhammad Out Of Shavkat Rakhmonov Title Fight At UFC 310 at MMA News.

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad is reportedly out of his scheduled title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

Muhammad completed his ascent to the mountaintop at 170 pounds this past July in Manchester, England, where he upset the odds to get the better of Leon Edwards across five rounds in their rematch.

Eager to be active and face the toughest tests available to him, “Remember the Name” welcomed the challenge of undefeated phenom Rakhmonov. The promotion obliged, booking the pair to headline the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas on Dec. 7.

On Wednesday, however, rumors began to circulate of a possible cancellation. Australian MMA insider @Bendaman2001 — who broke news of Khamzat Chimaev’s withdrawal from the Saudi Arabia UFC Fight Night this past June — was the first to suggest an issue with the UFC 310 headliner.

A more definitive report later came from longtime MMA media figure Al Zullino, who noted that the UFC is actively searching for a replacement fight to headline the final numbered card of 2024.

Should this news be confirmed, it’ll mark a setback in Rakhmonov’s title ambitions. The Kazakh fighter earned his opportunity with a 6-0 run since signing with the UFC back in 2020 off the back of championship success in M-1 Global.

It remains to be seen whether “Nomad” will remain on the UFC 310 card and face another top contender or patiently await a rescheduled clash with Muhammad in 2025.

This marks the latest blow to the Dec. 7 event, which already lost a crucial strawweight clash between the highly regarded Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba.

The lineup does still boast a title fight, though, with flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja set to welcome former Rizin champ Kai Asakura to the UFC in defense of his gold.

Continue Reading Report: Belal Muhammad Out Of Shavkat Rakhmonov Title Fight At UFC 310 at MMA News.

Belal Muhammad Trashes Ilia Topuria’s Triple Champ Aspirations

Belal Muhammad is showing little regard for Ilia Topuria’s lofty ambitions of becoming the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion. “El Matador” is set to put his featherweight crown on the line for the very first time this Saturday when he faces Max Holloway at UFC 308 inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Despite the […]

Continue Reading Belal Muhammad Trashes Ilia Topuria’s Triple Champ Aspirations at MMA News.

Belal Muhammad is showing little regard for Ilia Topuria’s lofty ambitions of becoming the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.

“El Matador” is set to put his featherweight crown on the line for the very first time this Saturday when he faces Max Holloway at UFC 308 inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Despite the formidable challenge that awaits him this weekend, Topuria has already set his sights beyond the fight, boldly asserting his ambition to become a three-division UFC champion by taking on lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev and welterweight champ Muhammad in the coming years.

While the undefeated Spaniard has mostly maintained a respectful demeanor toward Makhachev, he hasn’t hesitated to go brakes-free on “Remember the Name,” whom he considers “a walk in the park.” Both Topuria and Muhammad have been embroiled in a fierce war of words on social media ever since the American cautioned “El Matador” about his grand aspirations.

During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, “Remember the Name” shrugged off Topuria’s challenge, dismissing it as something not to be taken seriously. Muhammad suggested that the featherweight champion is simply calling out other titleholders in a bid to boost his fan appeal rather than presenting a genuine threat.

Muhammad secured the 170-pound belt with a unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July. Now, he’s poised for his first title defense against the unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov in the headlining bout of UFC 310, set for December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Continue Reading Belal Muhammad Trashes Ilia Topuria’s Triple Champ Aspirations at MMA News.