Tag: belal muhammad

Demian Maia vs. Belal Muhammad Set For UFC 263.

Demian MaiaBelal Muhammad will be happy despite not securing the rematch he wanted with Leon Edwards. According to reports Muhammad will instead square off against Demian Maia at UFC 263 on June 12. Brett Okamoto of ESPN first broke the news on social media, he wrote. Per sources, Demian Maia (@demianmaia) vs. Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) agreed […]

Demian Maia

Belal Muhammad will be happy despite not securing the rematch he wanted with Leon Edwards.

According to reports Muhammad will instead square off against Demian Maia at UFC 263 on June 12.

Brett Okamoto of ESPN first broke the news on social media, he wrote.

Per sources, Demian Maia (@demianmaia) vs. Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) agreed to for UFC 263 on June 12.

Muhammad stepped in to replace Chimaev on March 13 at UFC Vegas 21.

Edwards started well and clearly won round one. The fight was over in round two due to an inadvertent eye poke on Muhammad.

Post-fight, Muhammad and many fans called for a rematch.

Edwards was reluctant and has since been booked to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 262.

Muhammad is ranked #13 rank at 170-pounds and was riding a four-fight win streak into his fight with Edwards.

He last beat via Dhiego Lima via decision at UFC 258.

When a fight with ‘Rocky’ seemed to be unlikely, Muhammad called for a bout with BJJ legend Demian Maia instead.

“Obviously I want a big fight,” Muhammad said. “I feel like I still earned a main event spot just being willing to take a fight on three weeks’ notice. A guy I feel like would be a good main event spot with me is Demian Maia. He’s top 10 and I feel like I deserve somebody top 10 coming off four wins in a row, so I think that fight makes sense. I haven’t gone against a real grappler in the UFC yet, so fighting a grappler, it excites me. I wanna just show that side of me and to fight a legend like Demian Maia would be cool.”

The UFC matchmakers where clearly listening as he’s now been booked against the Brazilian.

Maia is on the tail end of his career but still remains more than a match for anyone at welterweight.

Maia hasn’t fought since losing to Gilbert Burns in March 2020.

The loss snapped a three-fight winning streak which included an impressive submission of Ben Askren.

Who do you think wins at UFC 263? Demian Maia or Belal Muhammad?

Belal Muhammad Reacts To Leon Edwards Fighting Nate Diaz

Belal MuhammadUFC welterweight Belal Muhammad has reacted to missing out on a rematch with Leon Edwards who is now set to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 262. ‘Rocky’ was originally set to fight Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC Vegas 21 main event. The undefeated Swedish fighter was ruled out of the bout due to COVID-19 complications. […]

Belal Muhammad

UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad has reacted to missing out on a rematch with Leon Edwards who is now set to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 262.

‘Rocky’ was originally set to fight Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC Vegas 21 main event. The undefeated Swedish fighter was ruled out of the bout due to COVID-19 complications. Muhammad stepped in to save the show.

In his return, Edwards appeared to be performing well hurting and dominating Muhammad in the first round. During the second stanza Muhammad was on the receiving end of a painful, inadvertent eye poke which brought an unfortunate end to the fight.

Post-fight, Edwards revealed despite the inconclusive result he did not want to rematch Muhammad. The Englishman believes he should be moving on to bigger things.

“I belong in a title shot, I have worked my way back up from getting defeated by Kamaru Usman,” Edwards said. “I have fought everybody, I have offered to fight everybody so I feel I deserve A title shot now, why should I do another ten fights to get a title shot you know?”

Muhammad was angered by Edwards refusing to rematch him.

“Never saw someone act so tough after poking someone in the eye the fight was just getting goin and if your satisfied to end it on that note your soft you ain’t getting a title fight off that I took the fight on 3 week notice and came to fight run it back @ufc,” Muhammad wrote on social media.

It seems like the promotion has sided with Edwards on this one.

The welterweight title is currently tied up as Kamaru Usman is set to defend against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261.

‘Rocky’ will get the next best thing. A lucrative and high-profile fight with one of the most popular fighters in MMA, Nate Diaz.

Muhammad remained optimistic despite the setback, telling MMA Fighting journalist, Damon Martin, that he will stay ready.

“I’ll stay ready,” Muhammad wrote on Twitter. “Thanks Damon I’ll be waiting on a call @ufc @danawhite @AliAbdelaziz00”

Who do you think Belal Muhammad should fight next?

Belal Muhammad Open To Fighting Demian Maia Next

Belal MuhammadUFC Welterweight contender Belal Muhammad wants his vengeance. Muhammad had the opportunity of a lifetime when he took on #3 ranked Leon Edwards earlier this month. However, the chance to pop into talks of title contention would be stood up after an accidental eye poke brought a swift end to Muhammad’s first main event. Muhammad […]

Belal Muhammad

UFC Welterweight contender Belal Muhammad wants his vengeance.

Muhammad had the opportunity of a lifetime when he took on #3 ranked Leon Edwards earlier this month.

However, the chance to pop into talks of title contention would be stood up after an accidental eye poke brought a swift end to Muhammad’s first main event.

Muhammad would cry in pain on the mat, with tears of blood streaked down his face. Referee Herb Dean would call off the fight, dubbing it as a no-contest for both men. Something ventured, nothing gained for Edwards and Muhammad that night.

Edward had hopes of getting a rematch against reigning champ Kamaru Usman despite the controversial result. However, the title shot would be given to Jorge Masvidal for a second time at UFC 261 on April 24th.

Outside of the new title headliner, the top of the division is not matched up. This is where Belal Muhammad wants to fit in. Having the fight with Edwards taken away from him due to injury, Muhammad obviously wants to get that one back, next.

“I got Ramadan coming up in April,” Muhammad told MMA Junkie. “I’m still gonna be training during it, but I’m hoping maybe June. June works out perfectly for me. I literally just had three back-to-back camps in a row so it’s like I want that, but it’s one of those where if they’re willing to do the rematch and they want to do it sooner, I’m healthy enough to do it sooner.”

In the aftermath of the eyepokes and the announcement of UFC 261, Edwards has set his sights on fighting Colby Covington. Covington hasn’t much interest in the fight, however Edwards continue to campaign for “Chaos.”

Muhammad isn’t the least bit surprised.

“(What) was pissing me off more than anything was the way he was being so dismissive of it. Like, ‘Oh yeah, I won the first round, all the other rounds would have been like that.’ No, it was one round and it’s a five-round fight. I’m literally a guy that picks it up as the fight goes on. His way of thinking is stupid honestly because if Dana White really said, ‘If Leon wins against Belal, he’s next in line for a title shot.’ So, if I’m so easy, why don’t you just come and take this easy fight?”

“It’s gonna be the same paycheck that you’re gonna get to fight somebody else.” Muhammad added. “There’s literally nobody else for you to fight. None of these other guys are trying to fight you, so this fight makes sense. It has a story behind it now so even in the UFC’s eyes, they can just build it back up as that.”

Riding off the momentum of headlining his first UFC event, Muhammad is hopeful for the future. While his next opponent may not be Edwards, he is in confident he can still reel in a big-name opponent.

“Obviously I want a big fight,” Muhammad said. “I feel like I still earned a main event spot just being willing to take a fight on three weeks’ notice. A guy I feel like would be a good main event spot with me is Demian Maia. He’s top 10 and I feel like I deserve somebody top 10 coming off four wins in a row, so I think that fight makes sense. I haven’t gone against a real grappler in the UFC yet, so fighting a grappler, it excites me. I wanna just show that side of me and to fight a legend like Demian Maia would be cool.”

Who do you want to see Belal Muhammad fight next?

Kevin Holland Eyes Move Down To 170 & Fight Against Belal Muhammad

Kevin Holland is looking at making a big change after his UFC Vegas 22 loss to Derek Brunson. The five-fight winning streak Holland brought into the cage with him at UFC Vegas 22 evaporated round after round as Derek Brunson was able to implement a suf…

Kevin Holland is looking at making a big change after his UFC Vegas 22 loss to Derek Brunson. The five-fight winning streak Holland brought into the cage with him at UFC Vegas 22 evaporated round after round as Derek Brunson was able to implement a suffocating game plan for a grappling-based victory. Perhaps the leading […]

Kevin Holland ‘Never Gonna Stop Talking’ Following Brunson Defeat, Eyeing Welterweight Move

HollandKevin Holland has no plans on stopping his talking during a fight. Holland suffered a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Derek Brunson who used his takedowns and wrestling to earn a comfortable victory last night at UFC Vegas 22. More than the action, it was Holland who was more entertaining for continuing to […]

Holland

Kevin Holland has no plans on stopping his talking during a fight.

Holland suffered a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Derek Brunson who used his takedowns and wrestling to earn a comfortable victory last night at UFC Vegas 22.

More than the action, it was Holland who was more entertaining for continuing to talk while he was being controlled as well as in between fights to Khabib Nurmagomedov who was cageside.

Of course, he also received plenty of criticism for only talking and not focusing on the fight enough. But Holland won’t be stopping anytime soon as he reacted to the setback.

“Oh f*ck, we’re a little beat up but never gonna stop talking,” Holland said on social media. “If you guys don’t f*cking like it, deuces.”

That said, it appears Holland acknowledges the fact that getting wrestled by the bigger middleweights is something that may affect his record going forward.

That is why he might be planning a welterweight move. His ideal first opponent? Belal Muhammad.

“Honestly, I’d like to get a nutritionist and try 170,” Holland said on the ESPN post-fight show (via MMA Fighting). “Those boys are heavy in there at 85. It’s nothing I just can’t deal with. It’s just something that when you fight for 25 minutes, you think about that type of stuff.

“So if I could try a 70 fight, that would be awesome. Belal kept mentioning my name getting ready for this fight, and I kept commenting on his little stuff. Belal [Muhammad is] coming off an eyepoke, I’m coming off a loss. We wanted to fight before. Why not do it now?”

Do you think that’s the best move for Holland?

Daniel Cormier Gives Insight On Possibility Of Redisgnging UFC Gloves

In the wake of UFC Vegas 21, the recurrence of eye pokes seemed to be the theme of the week, and Daniel Cormier understands that the issue is trickier to solve than it seems, even if the UFC redesigns their current gloves. In the main event last Saturd…

In the wake of UFC Vegas 21, the recurrence of eye pokes seemed to be the theme of the week, and Daniel Cormier understands that the issue is trickier to solve than it seems, even if the UFC redesigns their current gloves. In the main event last Saturday, Belal Muhammad suffered a horrible eye poke […]