Known as ‘Bully B’, Belal Muhammad has faced criticism despite his impressive UFC record. Many fans call him ‘boring’ because of his grappling heavy style. This is in stark contrast to the excitement often found in strike-focused fighters. Despite his mainstream run and stellar record in the UFC, a vocal section of fans fear that how he fights is not very interesting compared to others. However, Muhammad’s victory cannot be ignored. He has proven time and time again that his wrestling skills can defeat many opponents. Interestingly, compared to another grappler, Khabib Nurmagomedov, we see a deeper side of Muhammad’s story.
Respect for Khabib
Belal Muhammad and Khabib Nurmagomedov have a lot in common, but they are not related by blood. Muhammad has a lot of respect for Nurmagomedov and considers him a big brother in the sport. This respect stems from their joint craft and Muhammad’s interest in Khabib’s development. While he may not be related by blood, ‘Bully B’ is still considered the big brother of ‘The Eagle’.
Nurmagomedov, who grew up in Dagestan, Russia, put the region on the map with his martial arts prowess. He almost single-handedly made the region famous when he reportedly acquired Emirati citizenship in early 2024. On the other hand, Muhammad grew up in Chicago far from the rolling hills of Dagestan and despite these differences, their shared faith and devotion to their sport formed a strong bond. Muhammad proudly represents his parents’ homeland of Palestine and fights under the Palestinian flag. He is also incredibly vocal in his support of his parents’ hometown folks.
Muhammad’s journey turned exciting when Nurmagomedov guided him before his UFC 304 title shot against Leon Edwards. Training with Khabib has been transformative. Muhammad praised Khabib’s ability to improve his physical, mental and spiritual game. He described training with Khabib as incredibly rewarding, equating a few days with him to months of training with others. Talking about the results of his incredible training with Nurmagomedov, ‘Bully B’ revealed that just how he got to pick Dagestani’s brain and get advice on game plans and how to deal with opponents the forest has been a great help.
“It helps me everywhere, doesn’t it? Physically, mentally, spiritually. It just puts me on a different level. Training with [Khabib] and getting advice from him is worth 20, 30, 40, 50 days with someone else. Just being able to feel his energy, feel his inspiration, even feel his knowledge, that he gives you, and he can give me advice and what he thinks I should do… The knowledge is infinite, because for me , I think he’s The MMA world in the UFC is the GOAT and it’s just like a brother,” Muhammad said in an interview with CBS Sports.
The Praise of the Ananse
For Muhammad, MMA is the best. He firmly believes that Khabib Nurmagomedov is a duck. This belief is not just about the accolades but also about the practical benefits he has received from training with Khabib. Muhammad spoke of his invaluable advice and teaching, which greatly improved his game.
