Belal Muhammad says Kamaru Usman is his next opponent, but only if he is “paid like a champion.” Looks like Belal is pretty confident with his skills to make such a bold statement. Either he has enough faith in his skills or he just wants to be the center of attention?
Continue reading to find out how high his demands are and more!
Muhammad defeated Gilbert Burns at UFC 288 in May, solidifying his position as the top contender. He was overtaken by Colby Covington, who will oppose welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 296 on December 16. Dana White, the CEO of the UFC, suggested that Muhammad has a bout scheduled, but Muhammad made it clear that he would only engage if his needs were met.
Muhammad said that they are proposing potential matchups to the UFC. He’s open to facing Sean Strickland in the 185-pound division, as that could be a title fight opportunity. So, he has a guarantee for a title shot there. Additionally, in the 170-pound division, the only fighter without an opponent right now is Kamaru Usman. However, it doesn’t seem like a sensible option for him unless he’s compensated like a champion, because he believes Usman presents a tougher challenge compared to Colby or Leon. Furthermore, beating Usman won’t earn him a championship belt. If he were to fight Usman, his fight record would surpass Osman’s, including victories over Gilbert Burns, ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, Vicente Luque, and the undefeated Sean Brady. He believes this will hold significant weight, especially when Sean Brady returns to competition. So, without even competing for the title, he could be regarded as the greatest of all time in the welterweight division.
In case one of Edward or Covington is forced out and Muhammad gets the call, the strategy is for him to train for both of them. He won’t take part in the grappling match that was scheduled for ADXC 1 on Oct. 20 to avoid risking harm.
Muhammad claimed he doesn’t require a label to know he’s next even if he hasn’t yet been named as the official backup.
Muhammad stated that if the UFC is willing to provide him with compensation, he would accept the role of being a backup fighter. He mentioned that he would be present at the event anyway, sitting in the front row, and he would have his “WWE Money in the Bank” briefcase ready, ready to step in at any moment, regardless of whether they officially designate him as the backup or not.
He also noted that recently there have been backup fighters for every title fight, but he believes he doesn’t necessarily need to be formally designated as a backup because the UFC has already confirmed his position as the next in line for a title shot based on their previous statements. Nevertheless, he reiterated his willingness to be a backup if the UFC is willing to compensate him for that role.
What do you think of the attitude displayed by Muhammad? What will the consequences be of this? Do let us know about your thoughts on this in the comment section!
