Belal Muhammad’s reputation in the UFC universe hasn’t always been sterling, with even his contemporaries taking shots at him after he clinched the welterweight title. That said, the perception started shifting following his striking display in his latest championship bout with Jack Della Maddalena. Despite forfeiting the belt, Muhammad’s performance found wide acclaim.
Nonetheless, in spite of his commendable performance, Kevin Holland, a fellow UFC welterweight, didn’t mince his words and threw a dig at Muhammad post his defeat. The intensity of their rivalry has been escalating since Muhammad suffered a setback in his most recent fight.
On the media day of UFC 316, Holland was queried about Muhammad’s relinquishment of the welterweight title to Della Maddalena at the preceding UFC 315. Holland was evidently gleeful over the outcome. Describing it as an ‘exceptional’ sight, Holland proceeded to downplay Muhammad’s capabilities.
‘Watching Belal forfeit the belt was truly intriguing. I have never overestimated Belal,’ Holland professed. ‘Yes, he is committed, he puts in the hard yards. But let’s be honest, training camps ultimately hinge on who invests more sweat and tears. And as long as you outperform him during the training, you can undoubtedly put him down during the bout. His only strength is his work hard ethic.’
Meanwhile, Muhammad, the former title holder, is queuing up for an impactful resurgence in the UFC scene. He is charting his comeback in sync with the same pay-per-view event where JDM will be featuring, intending to register a victory and demand a shot at the title immediately thereafter.
Even though Muhammad conceded his title during UFC 315, he didn’t forfeit the admiration of the mixed martial arts (MMA) fraternity. Muhammad was hailed for both his formidable fight and his attitude, standing toe-to-toe with Jack Della Maddalena over an exhausting five rounds.
Chael Sonnen, UFC veteran, lauded Muhammad for promptly challenging Shavkat Rakhmonov following his defeat. Interestingly, Rakhmonov was the same adversary Muhammad had in his crosshairs during his championship tenure.
Sonnen commended Muhammad for maintaining his integrity, emphasizing that his act of challenging Rakhmonov in the wake of a loss spoke volumes about his character. Sonnen added, ‘Even if Belal isn’t acknowledged as much, he rightly deserves the recognition.’