UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is fairly positive he’ll be going through the undefeated third-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov in his first title protection.
Muhammad (24-3, 1 NC) captured the 170-pound championship by defeating Leon Edwards within the UFC 304 fundamental occasion in Manchester, England again in July. Rakhmonov (18-0) hasn’t fought since final December, defeating Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson by way of rear-naked choke at UFC 296.
Rakhmonov makes essentially the most sense however former champion Kamaru Usman has known as Muhammad out repeatedly. Usman has misplaced his final three fights and Muhammad believes “The Nigerian Nightmare” wants to choose up a win earlier than preventing for the title.
“For me now, I might slightly or not it’s Shavkat.” Belal Muhammad mentioned in an interview with Kevin Iole. “I feel he has extra aura. He has the undefeated half about him. There’s no excuses after beating him. If I’m going on the market and beat Usman, Usman’s on a three-fight dropping streak. He’s previous, he’s on his means out, and he wants one other win to get within the combine and present that he’s nonetheless hungry.”
“He wants to point out that he nonetheless has tread on the tires,” Muhammad continued. “However I need Shavkat extra. You have a look at the opposite guys, Ian [Garry] isn’t even calling for it. JDM (Jack Della Maddalena), I feel he’s nonetheless harm. I feel it’s going to be between Shavkat and Usman, and between these two, Shavkat makes extra sense.”
