After Belal Muhammad delivered a dominant decision victory over Stephen Thompson at the final UFC event of 2021, he made a serious case for a title shot next year. While Kamaru Usman’s position at the top of the welterweight pecking order seems unassailable for the time being, Muhammad is sick of watching the champ take rematches against men he has already defeated.
At the post-fight press conference, Muhammad declared that his seven-fight win streak should be enough to earn him a chance at UFC gold.
Belal Muhammad Demands Shot at Usman: “Give Him New Blood!”
“Who’s ever beaten ‘Wonderboy’ [Stephen Thompson] 30-26? Who’s ever beaten Wonderboy that style? Nobody’s ever beaten him that way.
Wonderboy’sfought for the title twice, Demian Maia has fought for the title twice, I beat both of those guys in dominant fashion. So, like, you’re telling me Leon Edwards deserves it over me? He almost got knocked out by Nate Diaz. Nate Diaz didn’t lose that fight, Nate Diaz never loses a fight.
The way I just beat Wonderboy, nobody’s ever done that to him. Even Gilbert Burns beat him dominantly, but it wasn’t like that. I deserve that title shot next because my streak is as long as Leon’s, and Leon’s already lost to Usman, so let’s stop with these rematches, let’s stop with the, ‘Oh, he beat Colby [Covington] twice, he beat [Jorge] Masvidal twice, and now he’s the GOAT.’ No, give him new blood.”
Leon Edwards, a fellow welterweight, has similarly been asking for a chance at Kamaru Usman for a long time. Edwards’ win streak is even longer than Muhammad’s, but Edwards’ last loss did come as Kamaru Usman was rising through the welterweight ranks.
In fact, the only blip on either fighter’s title campaign is the no-contest ruling for Edwards vs Muhammad. Their fight ended in only the second round thanks to an accidental eye poke.
Regardless of that, Belal Muhammad wants to get his hands on the #1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. His goal, he says, is world championship, and that’s what he wants.
He even jokingly addressed Dana White in his pursuit of the belt, saying of the UFC President: “He keeps ignoring my calls.
I keep trying to call him, I keep texting him, he’s leaving me on read. Nah, I’m messing around. I didn’t see him. I didn’t know he was here. … Dana, we’re gonna riot. Gold is the goal.
Beating a guy like Wonderboy is not my goal. My goal is to be the world champion in the UFC, and that’s what I’m going to achieve.” Do you want to see Muhammad vs Usman? Let us know in the comments.
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