Jun 12, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Belal Muhammad reacts following his match against Demian Maia during UFC 263 at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Belal Muhammad Offers To Vacate His Belt To Let Islam Makhachev Move Up

Belal Muhammad offers to vacate his title, allowing Islam Makhachev to move up and challenge for a new championship opportunity!

Jun 12, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Belal Muhammad reacts following his match against Demian Maia during UFC 263 at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The bond between fighters from Dagestan and their training partners has always been something special in MMA. From Khabib Nurmagomedov’s tight-knit crew to the new generation led by Islam Makhachev, these warriors value loyalty above all else. Now, UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is proving just how deep those bonds run.

During a recent appearance on The Barstool Chicago podcast, Muhammad made it clear that no amount of money could convince him to fight his friend and training partner Makhachev. He even went as far as offering to vacate his 170-pound title if Islam Makhachev wants to move up. This kind of selflessness is rare in a sport where fighters often claim they would fight anyone for the right price.

Also Read: Islam Makhachev Gives His Take On Ilia Topuria Fighting For The Lightweight Title

Eyes On Middleweight Gold

Instead of a clash with Islam Makhachev, Muhammad has his sights set on something even bigger – the middleweight division. The Chicago native believes he is just two fights away from earning a shot at the 185-pound title, currently held by Dricus du Plessis. And he has some opinions about the middleweight landscape!

“I would never fight Islam [Makhachev]. That’s different. For me and him, it is. We’ve trained together. When you’re sweating with somebody and you’re bleeding with somebody and you’re training with somebody like that, it’s just a different relationship. It wouldn’t be about money for me. I would rather go up to 185 and let him [Makhachev] take 170 if that’s the case.”

Belal Muhammad says he would never fight Islam Makhachev, and would rather move up to 185 and let Islam fight for the 170 title

“I think 185 is probably the easiest weight class, besides Khamzat. Bro, Strickland and Du Plessis suck.”

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— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 16, 2025

Muhammad actually has a point about the middleweight division being ripe for the taking. After Robert Whittaker’s recent loss to Chimaev and Israel Adesanya’s defeat to Strickland, the division is in a state of flux. Muhammad’s wrestling-heavy style could pose real problems for many of the top contenders. But first, he needs to get past Shavkat Rakhmonov, a fight that’s expected to be announced soon.

What makes Muhammad’s stance particularly fascinating is how it fits into the bigger picture of his career. His willingness to move up in weight while letting his friend take his spot shows both strategic thinking and genuine loyalty, which is a rare combination in combat sports.

The history of champion-versus-champion fights in the UFC has shown that moving up in weight can be a career-defining gamble. Georges St-Pierre did it successfully against Michael Bisping, while Daniel Cormier shocked the world by knocking out Stipe Miocic. Could Muhammad add his name to that list? But first he needs to keep his welterweight belt, and that is no small task with killers like Rakhmonov lurking around!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Belal Muhammad

Dricus Du Plessis

Islam Makhachev

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!