Belal Muhammad
Remember the Name
USA
No-shows Vegas main event
Muhammad lost to Gabriel Bonfim via unanimous decision (45-50, 45-50, 45-50) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
As this fight played out, Muhammad had literally zero chance of winning. Belal has always been a decision fighter. He relies on wrestling and pace to be successful. Here, he stood around for two rounds and had his lead leg battered, limiting his mobility the rest of the way. The only takedown he appeared to truly commit to was an attempt the second the bell rang to start Round 3 and that failed. Other than that, he had zero answers for the size and length edge Bonfim possessed. The Brazilian is a quality opponent, but to get swept on the scorecards by a guy that entered the evening ranked outside the top 10 is completely unacceptable from Muhammad's perspective. Set to turn 38 years old in July, it's going to be nearly impossible for Belal to recover from this. He has now lost three straight dating back to May 2025.
As this fight played out, Muhammad had literally zero chance of winning. Belal has always been a decision fighter. He relies on wrestling and pace to be successful. Here, he stood around for two rounds and had his lead leg battered, limiting his mobility the rest of the way. The only takedown he appeared to truly commit to was an attempt the second the bell rang to start Round 3 and that failed. Other than that, he had zero answers for the size and length edge Bonfim possessed. The Brazilian is a quality opponent, but to get swept on the scorecards by a guy that entered the evening ranked outside the top 10 is completely unacceptable from Muhammad's perspective. Set to turn 38 years old in July, it's going to be nearly impossible for Belal to recover from this. He has now lost three straight dating back to May 2025.
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Will return in headliner
Muhammad will face Gabriel Bonfim in the main event of UFC Fight Night 278 in Las Vegas on June 6, Matthew Wells of MMAJunkie.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Muhammad has traveled a hard road since defeating Leon Edwards for the welterweight title in July of 2024, having lost his last two fights via decision. "Remember the Name" should be able to jump right back into contention if he can notch a victory over Bonfim, who is currently riding a five-fight winning streak.
Muhammad has traveled a hard road since defeating Leon Edwards for the welterweight title in July of 2024, having lost his last two fights via decision. "Remember the Name" should be able to jump right back into contention if he can notch a victory over Bonfim, who is currently riding a five-fight winning streak.
Falls to Ian Garry in Qatar
Muhammad lost to Ian Garry via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC Qatar on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Muhammad isn't known for his power or stand-up skills, so when the wrestling isn't working, he's in for a world of hurt. That was the case Saturday, as he failed on all seven of his takedown attempts. Muhammad was by no means overwhelmed, and had a case of winning Round 2, but he allowed Garry to get the best of him in the significant striking numbers in all three frames. Now having lost two fights in a row, it appears the 37-year-old has a long ways to go before he can get back into the title picture.
Muhammad isn't known for his power or stand-up skills, so when the wrestling isn't working, he's in for a world of hurt. That was the case Saturday, as he failed on all seven of his takedown attempts. Muhammad was by no means overwhelmed, and had a case of winning Round 2, but he allowed Garry to get the best of him in the significant striking numbers in all three frames. Now having lost two fights in a row, it appears the 37-year-old has a long ways to go before he can get back into the title picture.
Facing Garry in Qatar
Muhammad will take on Ian Garry in a welterweight bout at UFC Qatar on Nov. 22, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Muhammad just had a six-fight winning streak snapped at the hands of Jack Della Maddalena, dropping his record to a still highly impressive 15-4 in the UFC. He'll take on an opponent who has also posted win after win for much of his career, as Garry has won nine out his first 10 fights. This should be a highly competitive and entertaining bout.
Muhammad just had a six-fight winning streak snapped at the hands of Jack Della Maddalena, dropping his record to a still highly impressive 15-4 in the UFC. He'll take on an opponent who has also posted win after win for much of his career, as Garry has won nine out his first 10 fights. This should be a highly competitive and entertaining bout.
Title reign ends immediately
Muhammad dropped the UFC Welterweight Championship on Saturday, losing to Jack Della Maddalena via unanimous decision (47-48, 47-48, 46-49) at UFC 315 in Montreal.
ANALYSIS
While the fight was supremely entertaining (it would go on to earn both men $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses), it was an underwhelming performance from Muhammad as a -200 favorite in his first title defense. It was widely assumed that Belal would have a massive edge in the grappling and thus go to his wrestling game over and over, but he didn't land a takedown until Round 4 and connected on just 3-of-9 takedowns overall. When all was said and done, he was credited with just 3:21 worth of control time. Muhammad landed more than his fair of shots on the feet, but Della Maddalena without question landed the more notable blows. Shockingly, two of the three judges had the fight tied going into Round 5, at which point an exhausted Belal simply couldn't get over the hump. Set to turn 37 years of age this coming July, this setback snaps a 11-fight unbeaten streak (10-0, 1NC) for Muhammad and is his first loss since January 19, 2019, a unanimous decision defeat against Geoff Neal.
While the fight was supremely entertaining (it would go on to earn both men $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses), it was an underwhelming performance from Muhammad as a -200 favorite in his first title defense. It was widely assumed that Belal would have a massive edge in the grappling and thus go to his wrestling game over and over, but he didn't land a takedown until Round 4 and connected on just 3-of-9 takedowns overall. When all was said and done, he was credited with just 3:21 worth of control time. Muhammad landed more than his fair of shots on the feet, but Della Maddalena without question landed the more notable blows. Shockingly, two of the three judges had the fight tied going into Round 5, at which point an exhausted Belal simply couldn't get over the hump. Set to turn 37 years of age this coming July, this setback snaps a 11-fight unbeaten streak (10-0, 1NC) for Muhammad and is his first loss since January 19, 2019, a unanimous decision defeat against Geoff Neal.
Next opponent scheduled
Muhammad (foot) will face Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC Welterweight Championship on May 10 in Montreal.
ANALYSIS
Muhammad will look to defend his welterweight belt for the first time as he looks to come back from a foot injury that forced him to withdraw from his last scheduled bout against Shavkat Rakhmonov. This fight was actually supposed to be a re-booking, but Rakhmonov wasn't quite healthy enough to make a May date, though he'll almost certainly face the winner later this year. As for Muhammad, he'll once again look to employ his suffocating wrestling style against the surging Della Maddalena, who is riding a seven-fight winning streak and sports a respectable 70 percent takedown defense.
Muhammad will look to defend his welterweight belt for the first time as he looks to come back from a foot injury that forced him to withdraw from his last scheduled bout against Shavkat Rakhmonov. This fight was actually supposed to be a re-booking, but Rakhmonov wasn't quite healthy enough to make a May date, though he'll almost certainly face the winner later this year. As for Muhammad, he'll once again look to employ his suffocating wrestling style against the surging Della Maddalena, who is riding a seven-fight winning streak and sports a respectable 70 percent takedown defense.