Belal Muhammad thinks it’s time for him and Kamaru Usman to settle the rating.
The longtime rivals may very well be set for a combat within the close to future with Muhammad shedding his welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 and Usman making a triumphant return to the division with a win over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta on Saturday.
Afterwards, Usman instructed reporters he expects to combat for the title after Della Maddalena defends towards former light-weight champion Islam Makhachev, dismissing the opportunity of a Muhammad grudge match. Muhammad responded on social media, referencing an alleged confrontation on Usman’s Pound 4 Pound podcast that, as of now, stays unreleased.
Muhammad made it clear on his YouTube channel that he welcomes combat with Usman.
“What I see, what I would like, I needed him to get on the mic and name me out,” Muhammad mentioned. “I feel that’s the subsequent one which is smart. That’s the one combat that is smart. If you happen to’re speaking concerning the division, we now have historical past. We’ve been going forwards and backwards. It’s a transparent No. 1 contender combat. He’s calling for the belt, 185, 170, however I’m No. 1. I’m nonetheless the man on the high.
“So let’s do it. I feel you might decide the date, decide the time, the place, and I’ll be prepared for it. Watching this combat, I see you’re not going to take me down like that. I feel will appear like the fifth spherical, will appear like the entire combat once we combat. It’s not going to be what Buckley was. It’s going to be lots tougher, I feel will probably be all on the ft, it’ll positively be a enjoyable combat and I’m excited for it. I’m prepared for it and it will get me hyped. I’ve been ready for it, I’ve been wanting it, so hopefully the UFC makes it.”
Muhammad’s loss to Maddalena snapped a six-year undefeated streak for “Bear in mind the Identify.” Just some weeks shy of his thirty seventh birthday, the trail again to a title shot is murky, although he’s satisfied that taking out Usman, 38, ought to preserve him within the No. 1 contender spot (what this implies for Muhammad if Makhachev, a buddy and coaching accomplice, claims the welterweight title is unclear).
Although Muhammad predicts he’ll dominate Usman for 5 rounds, he was nonetheless impressed by his rival’s comeback efficiency towards Buckley.
“My preliminary response is Usman’s nonetheless acquired juice left within the tank,” Muhammad mentioned. “A giant combat for him, three losses in a row. Folks had all of the questions on the planet about him. Does he nonetheless have it? Does he nonetheless have knees? I feel he went on the market and he proved that he does nonetheless have it. He nonetheless belongs within the high of the division with the most effective guys on the planet.”
