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 major occasion in Manchester, England again in July. Rakhmonov (18-0) hasn’t fought since final December, defeating Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson through rear-naked choke at UFC 296.
Rakhmonov makes probably 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 select up a win earlier than preventing for the title.
“For me now, I’d quite or not it’s Shavkat.” Belal Muhammad stated in an interview with Kevin Iole. “I believe 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 shedding streak. He’s previous, he’s on his approach 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 would like Shavkat extra. You take a look at the opposite guys, Ian [Garry] isn’t even calling for it. JDM (Jack Della Maddalena), I believe he’s nonetheless damage. I believe it’s going to be between Shavkat and Usman, and between these two, Shavkat makes extra sense.”
