May 10, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Belal Muhammad (red gloves) prepares to fight Jack Della Maddalena (not pictured) during UFC 315 at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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Belal Muhammad Next Fight – Who Is Next For The Former Welterweight Champion?

May 10, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Belal Muhammad (red gloves) prepares to fight Jack Della Maddalena (not pictured) during UFC 315 at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Belal Muhammad finds himself at a crossroads after losing to Ian Machado Garry at UFC Qatar. The former welterweight champion has now dropped two consecutive fights after losing his belt to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315.

Ian Machado Garry beat Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision at UFC Qatar Fight night . pic.twitter.com/9MyZ62eVhz
— chasseur (@Loopy1818) November 22, 2025

At 37 years old, Muhammad (24-5-1 NC) needs to make smart decisions about his career moving forward. Several intriguing options exist for his next matchup in the welterweight division. Here, we have summarized some of the most logical picks for the former welterweight champion.

Kamaru Usman

Kamaru Usman, currently ranked as #8 contender, presents an intriguing option given his history and competitive rivalry with Muhammad. The former welterweight champion has been campaigning hard for fights with top contenders recently, including a shot at the title.

A matchup between these two carries significant name value for the promotion. Both fighters share similar wrestling-heavy styles which would create a compelling grappling-focused contest. Usman needs a quality opponent to work his way back to title contention. Muhammad represents that level of competition perfectly for the Nigerian Nightmare.

Shavkat Rakhmonov

Undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov presents another viable option as he will look to return from his layoff next year. This fight was previously scheduled but fell through due to injuries unfortunately. Rakhmonov’s perfect record and finishing ability would provide Muhammad with an opportunity to face elite-level competition.

🚨BREAKING: Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov is in the works for October! #ufc #mma #ufc321
Per @jon_anik 🐐 h/t @realkevink pic.twitter.com/Hh4d5qbe5C
— West Till Death (@WestTillDeath) May 25, 2025

The Kazakh fighter represents a serious test for anyone at welterweight currently. A victory over the undefeated contender would immediately thrust Muhammad back into title discussions. The stylistic matchup favors Muhammad’s experience against Rakhmonov’s finishing instincts.

Carlos Prates

Carlos Prates bounced back from his loss against Ian Garry with a win at UFC 322. He could serve as a viable next opponent for Muhammad to regain momentum. Prates is a rising striker in the division with dangerous knockout power.

A win over him would demonstrate Muhammad’s ability to handle dangerous stand-up fighters effectively. The Brazilian represents a stylistic challenge that could showcase Muhammad’s wrestling advantages.

Sean Brady

Sean Brady, a fighter recently defeated at UFC 322, could also be a potential rematch for Muhammad. Muhammad had won their previous encounter. Brady was previously ranked #2 before his loss to Michael Morales.

Belal Muhammad TKOs Sean Brady in 2022

Brady was 29 years old at the the time.

The last time Colby Covington fought someone under the age of 30 was Bryan Barberena in 2016. pic.twitter.com/LNirdPgQGi
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) March 21, 2023

Both fighters need bounce-back victories to stay relevant in the title picture. This represents a classic grappler vs grappler matchup that fans appreciate. The winner would regain momentum toward the top.

Move To Middleweight

Muhammad has previously discussed moving to middleweight, stating “Maybe one or two more fights, I think then I could start talking about middleweight and could start talking about double champ status”. With Islam Makhachev now holding the welterweight title, Muhammad had hinted he’s not eager to compete while his training partner is champion.

Belal Muhammad says he’d never fight Islam Makhachev:

“Maybe there’s 2 or 3 guys that are next in line after this fight… and then I have a chance to move up to middleweight.

[Islam] still got some fighters to fight, I still got some fighters to fight. And then, we both could… pic.twitter.com/cvcJxVZVLw
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 24, 2024

This loss and the fact that Makhachev is the champion could accelerate his move to 185 pounds significantly. A fresh start at middleweight might revitalize Muhammad’s championship aspirations completely.

(Image Credit: Eric Bolte – Imagn Images)

Belal Muhammad

Carlos Prates

Ian Garry

Kamaru Usman

Michael Morales

Sean Brady

UFC Qatar

Zaid Quraishi

mma

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!