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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UFC 321 Matchup Taking Shape As Belal Muhammad Reportedly Targeted For Bout With Unbeaten Threat

Rumors point to Belal Muhammad vs Undefeated rising star in what could be a welterweight title eliminator at UFC 321!

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

Life in the UFC can be brutal, especially when a fighter has tasted championship gold only to have it ripped away. Belal Muhammad learned this harsh lesson the hard way at UFC 315. The Palestinian-American fighter had finally reached the mountaintop after years of grinding through the welterweight division. His victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 felt like destiny fulfilling itself. But championship reigns can be fragile things in mixed martial arts, and Muhammad discovered just how quickly fortunes can change.

Jack Della Maddalena became the wrench in Muhammad’s plans at UFC 315. The Australian welterweight pulled off what many considered an upset, taking the belt via unanimous decision. Muhammad’s reign lasted just a few months, but losing the title doesn’t mean his story ends there. The former champion now finds himself in familiar territory – having to climb back up the ladder. Muhammad’s journey back to the top is about to get interesting, and it looks like the UFC has found him the perfect opponent to restart his title chase.

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Belal Muhammad vs Shavkat Rakhmonov In the Books, Manager Says Otherwise

UFC commentator Jon Anik dropped the bombshell news on his podcast. He revealed that Muhammad versus Rakhmonov is targeted for October. The timing makes perfect sense from a promotional standpoint. Muhammad needs time to recover from his recent loss both physically and mentally.

“Belal vs Shavkat in October. Breaking News.”

Belal Muhammad is set to face Shavkat Rakhmonov in October at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, per @Jon_Anik

Shavkat's manager responded, saying that this fight is not in the works. ❌#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/CKLGeJrmYV
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) May 25, 2025

However, Rakhmonov’s manager, Daniel Rubenstein has poured cold water over this claim. He responded to this news with his own statement.

“Lol no, It’s not.”

Shavkat Rakhmonov represents everything dangerous about the welterweight division. The Kazakhstani fighter carries a perfect 19-0 record that tells only part of his story. Rakhmonov doesn’t just win fights, he finishes them in spectacular fashion. Eighteen of his nineteen victories have come by knockout or submission. The 30-year-old has been steamrolling through UFC competition since his debut in 2020, and he’s done it with a style that blends technical precision with raw violence.

The two were supposed to fight for Muhammad’s first title defense. However, Belal Muhammad suffered an injury that forced him out. The next time it was scheduled, Rakhmonov pulled out due to unknown reasons (probably surgery) and was replaced by Jack Della Maddalena, who now is the champion.

Whether this fight happens or not remains to be seen. Rakhmonov may want an immediate title shot when he returns. But the coming of Islam Makhachev to the division has complicated things. The top welterweights would have to fight each other till Della Maddalena vs Makhachev is done. And this opens the possibility of Belal Muhammad vs Shavkat Rakhmonov.

(Image Credit: Eric Bolte – Imagn Images)

Belal Muhammad

Shavkat Rakhmonov

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!