170 lb champion Belal Muhammad pledges loyalty to Islam Makhachev and eyes middleweight gold ahead of UFC 315
Friendship in combat sports is a rare commodity. Most fighters would punch their own grandmother for a shot at UFC gold! The fight business thrives on bad blood and rivalries, with trash talk selling tickets and championship opportunities often going to the loudest voice in the room. Just look at how Conor McGregor talked his way to multiple title shots or how Colby Covington reinvented himself as a villain to save his UFC career. But sometimes, amidst all the chaos and selfishness, a bond forms that goes beyond the typical fighter mentality. The relationship between Belal Muhammad and Team Khabib represents exactly that kind of rare connection in a sport where self-interest usually reigns supreme.
Muhammad worked for years to claim UFC gold, finally capturing the welterweight title from Leon Edwards at UFC 304 last July. His journey wasn’t flashy or filled with highlight-reel knockouts. Instead, he grinded his way to the top with relentless wrestling and pressure that broke his opponents’ wills. Now sitting atop the 170-pound division with a target on his back, Muhammad faces a potential dilemma that most champions would consider unthinkable, voluntarily giving up his hard-earned belt for a friend!
In a recent appearance on the FullSend podcast, Muhammad made his position crystal clear regarding a potential clash with his friend and training partner Islam Makhachev. The welterweight champ didn’t hesitate to offer a solution that sounds almost unbelievable in a sport ruled by ego and opportunism. He would simply move up and let Makhachev take his spot.
“For me, loyalty means more than anything. I feel that i’m at the point now where if i get two title defenses, i could start looking to move up. When i am looking at 85 [middleweight], I think it is an easy division for myself…So me and Islam could double champ back to back.”
This sentiment comes from Muhammad’s deep connection to Makhachev and the entire team surrounding former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Dagestani fighters welcomed Muhammad into their training camp, helping him reach new levels in his career. Their bond goes beyond just business. It is a brotherhood forged in the crucible of combat sports training!
Last year, Muhammad had urged Islam Makhachev to get the job done in the lightweight division, while he focuses on the welterweight division. But now, he is willing and ready to move on to the next weight class and let his teammate take up his spot. The UFC 315 battle between Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena would probably answer a lot of questions, both for fight fans and for the fighters themselves. We could probably be getting an answer for who Makhachev is fighting, and whether it is for the lightweight or the welterweight belt!
(Image Credit: ChampRDS – X)
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