Belal Muhammad won the welterweight title after a win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304, and he finds himself in a pivotal moment. With top fighters Kamru Osman and Shavkat Rakhmonov eyeing that match, Muhammad now faces an important decision. The question is who will he pick for his first title defense?
Nicknamed ‘Remember the Name’, Muhammad was loved by two fierce rivals. On one side is the brilliant Kamru Osman who is eager to reclaim his throne. On the other side is the undefeated cub Rakhmonov, who refuses to be cast aside.
What Muhammad First: The Battle of the Titans
Muhammad has shown his preference for the winner of the potential contest between Osman and Rakhmonov. But the final decision rests with UFC President Dana White and the matchmakers, who will determine the champion’s next opponent.
MMA legend Robert Whittaker recently shared his thoughts on the situation in an MMArcade podcast on YouTube. He believes Usman has a strong case, especially as he steps in on short notice to fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. “Stepping in to fight Usman on a week’s notice I think that gives him a lot of leverage, ” Whittaker said, with Usman willing to take challenges to work in front of him If he looked like he could.
Usman’s Heroic Efforts Could have Made him Shoot
In a nutshell, Dana White’s praise for Usman may tip the scales in favor of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’. Whittaker confirmed this: “Uthman left the battlefield for like a week, four days, five days and just went to heaven. It was such a crazy fight, and he did it really well. I see it was given to Usman for that. Usman hasn’t been in for a long time, but I even saw him fighting corpses for him.”
However, Whittaker admits there is uncertainty in his forecast. If #2-ranked Usman faces #3-ranked Rakhmonov, that could make Belal Muhammad wait a long time before his first title defense. Such a delay would have been disappointing, especially given the leader’s desire to consolidate his rule.
Rakhmonov Won’t Back Down : Challenge to the winner
Shavkat Rakhmonov aka ‘Nomad’ is determined to get his shot at the title. He recently revealed that the UFC had already offered him to fight Muhammad at UFC 307, but due to timing issues he turned down the winner. Rakhmonov is an M.M.A. He wasn’t ready to defend his belt at that point.”
This revelation raised eyebrows, as UFC 307 is scheduled to take place in Utah, a venue that would not have been ideal for Muhammad. Many believe that UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi will be a more suitable venue for the champion to defend now that Ilya Topuria vs. Abu Dhabi is on the horizon. Headlined by Max Holloway. Regardless, Rakhmonov remains relentless in his pursuit.
Cyber Warfare: Rakhmonov and Muhammad
The tension between Muhammad and Rakhmonov has spread on social media. When Muhammad criticized Rakhmonov for doing nothing, the 29-year-old fighter was quick to remind him that Muhammad himself was on the sidelines for 14 months before his title fight with Edwards
Rakhmonov’s tenacity makes him a strong contender for a title shot. With Jack Della Maddalena, another top-five welterweight, currently sidelined due to injury, Rahmonov seems the most logical choice for Muhammad’s first title defense The difference between Muhammad’s decision-heavy record and Rakhmonov’s finishing weight distance offers another layer of intrigue says this can match.
