May 10, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Belal Muhammad (red gloves) fights Jack Della Maddalena (blue gloves) during UFC 315 at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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Belal Muhammd To Middleweight? – With Islam vs JDM In sight, What Is Next For Belal Muhammad?

With the welterweight title picture shifting, Belal Muhammad hints at a middleweight move. What's really next for him?

May 10, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Belal Muhammad (red gloves) fights Jack Della Maddalena (blue gloves) during UFC 315 at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

For years, Belal Muhammad ground his way to the top. His path wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t filled with highlight-reel knockouts. But it worked. ‘Remember the Name’ earned his welterweight gold the hard way. He beat Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady, and finally, Leon Edwards in a rematch for the ages. That victory avenged the eye poke no-contest that had haunted him for years.

And then Jack Della Maddalena happened. The Australian striker completely neutralized Muhammad’s wrestling at UFC 315. He made the champion look ordinary. Now, with Islam Makhachev calling for a shot at JDM’s newly-minted welterweight title, Muhammad finds himself in career limbo. His reign ended before it truly began. Zero successful title defenses. The man who waited so long for his moment saw it slip away in 25 minutes. So what now? The answer might lie 15 pounds up, in the middleweight division. And honestly, it makes too much sense to ignore.

Also Read: Islam Makhachev Eyes Welterweight Move Without Giving Up Lightweight Gold; Ilia Topuria Responds

Rivals Await At 185: Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev, and Sean Strickland

The middleweight division might as well have a “Belal Muhammad Enemies” sign hanging over it! First, there is Dricus Du Plessis. Muhammad called out Du Plessis, the current middleweight champion, suggesting he would be an “easy fight.” This beef has been marinating for months. A fresh Muhammad at 185 pounds challenging for another title? Probably not in the immediate future.

😅 Dricus Du Plessis reacts to Belal Muhammad's title loss at UFC 315. pic.twitter.com/z2NkPfGcYN
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 11, 2025

Then there is Khamzat Chimaev, the boogeyman who can’t seem to make welterweight anymore. These two have traded barbs recently. Muhammad repeatedly claimed Chimaev was avoiding him at 170 pounds and revealed that he wanted to fight him. The tension built, but the fight never materialized. At middleweight, that obstacle disappears. No more weight cut excuses. Just two wrestlers with bad blood and something to prove.

Belal Muhammad says if Khamzat Chimaev wants to fight him he can fight him for the Belt after he beats Kamaru Usman pic.twitter.com/3UZyyi0Fb2
— Benny P 🇦🇺 (@Bendaman2001) December 19, 2021

Let us not forget Sean Strickland either. The former champion and Muhammad have verbally sparred on social media intensely. Strickland’s blunt personality clashes perfectly with Muhammad’s more measured approach. Their styles in the octagon would create an equally interesting clash. A win over any of these names would instantly establish Muhammad as a serious contender in a new division.

The Rankings Game For Belal Muhammad: Fresh Start or Back of the Line?

The logistics of Muhammad’s potential move create fascinating questions. Does a former welterweight champion immediately earn a top-five ranking opponent at middleweight? History suggests yes. When Israel Adesanya moved up to light heavyweight, he got an immediate title shot. When Alexander Volkanovski challenged for the lightweight belt, he jumped the entire queue. Muhammad might not get that royal treatment, but he wouldn’t start at the bottom either.

Of course, all of this depends on what happens with Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena. If that superfight materializes and Makhachev wins, the welterweight division enters complete chaos. And Muhammad definitely wouldn’t want to fight Makhavhev. At 36 years old, he doesn’t have time for long rebuilds. Middleweight offers a faster path back to championship relevance. It offers bigger names and most importantly, it offers something every fighter needs after a crushing defeat: hope!

(Image Credit: Eric Bolte – Imagn Images)

Belal Muhammad

Dricus Du Plessis

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

Khamzat Chimaev

Sean Strickland

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!