Irrespective of how good Kamaru Usman seemed in his most up-to-date journey to the Octagon, all roads to the welterweight title undergo Belal Muhammad.
‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ delivered a classic efficiency at UFC Atlanta, touchdown a dominant resolution victory over Joaquin Buckley. With the victory, Usman believes he’s completed greater than sufficient to climb proper again into the title image at 170. Nevertheless, Muhammad sees issues in another way.
Because it stands, the whole division is awaiting the result of reigning champion Jack Della Maddalena’s yet-to-be-announced combat with former light-weight king Islam Makhachev. However with Muhammad nonetheless holding sturdy because the top-ranked contender at welterweight, ‘Keep in mind The Identify’ believes anybody who desires a crack on the winner of JDM vs. Makhachev should take care of him first.
“He has to undergo me,” Muhammad stated matter-of-factly throughout an interview with MMA Junkie. “I feel I’m nonetheless primary, the primary ranked man. It was a struggle, it was Combat of the Evening. If JDM continues to be the champion, who wouldn’t wish to see that combat once more? For me, all these guys obtained to look to attempt to combat me. Usman’s appearing like he deserves a heavyweight title combat after beating Buckley, who can’t wrestle, and acts like he’s nonetheless the champion.
“I’m like, ‘Bro, you’re one and three out of your final 4 fights.’ He’s making an attempt to keep away from it, however on the finish of the day, I’m nonetheless the primary man, and I feel whoever fights me, whoever that combat’s going to get subsequent, they’re going to must undergo me.”
Is Belal Muhammad Proper?
Whereas Kamaru Usman’s standing as a former world champion and an simple draw curries him some favor, the very fact stays that the ex-titleholder has solely gained one combat within the final 4 years — and that got here in opposition to a man who’s but to interrupt into the division’s high 5.
Usman has identify worth, however the truth stays that fighters like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Sean Brady, and Belal Muhammad have been much more energetic and much more profitable of their respective campaigns over the previous couple of years.
