Belal Muhammad reveals plan for next UFC title fight that 'makes a lot of sense' depending on Conor McGregor
08/23/2024 03:34 AM
As the newly crowned UFC welterweight champion surveys his division, there is a certain expectation that the next title fight could be down to whether Conor McGregor makes his return by the end of 2024.
Following his dominant five-round decision win over Leon Edwards back in July, welterweight champion Belal Muhammad promises to remain more active than his predecessor – but any plans for his next title defense might have a 'Notorious' dependency.
Belal Muhammad reveals ‘Notorious’ timeline for next UFC title fight
Speaking to MMA Junkie earlier this week, welterweight king Belal 'Remember the Name' Muhammad explained why he's so eager to get back in the octagon, only a few weeks after securing the 170lb title.
"My early goal was to be the champion; my next goal is to be the best welterweight to ever do it, I want to be up there and cemented as one of the GOATs of the welterweight division.
"I'm already looking at what's next for me and who's next – we're going to have this title for a while, and I just can't wait to get out there and start fighting again."
Yet having just celebrated his 36th birthday, Muhammad knows that the window to secure GOAT status is one that'll rapidly close, which is why he's targeting his next title fight for the final PPV of the year.
"I'd rather fight than not fight; so hopefully if I can get into the last card of the year in December, that'll be great for me."
That December card, UFC 310, has not yet been officially announced by the promotion, but is expected to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Unfortunately, Muhammad knows that he'll likely have to ditch those plans for a December comeback, should the one and only Conor McGregor be set to make his return on that same card.
"I think that makes a lot of sense, but you just never know if they don't want to put nobody on McGregor's card – but I doubt McGregor's even fighting… So, if they need somebody for that, I'll be their Alex Pereira to step up."
Muhammad is probably right in assuming that if McGregor vs Chandler is rebooked for UFC 310, the promotion likely wouldn't want to schedule a welterweight title fight for the co-main event.
The Irishman has headlined every single card that he's been a part of since 2015 (vs Dennis Siver), and there hasn’t been a title fight under McGregor's name since Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson back in 2016.
"I'm in training in the gym, my boy Nacho is fighting at The Sphere in September, so I'll be in camp with him helping," continued Muhammad, as he also took aim at the man who he wrestled the title away from in Manchester.
"I'm still motivated [and] I'm ready to go, I'm not going to be a Leon Edwards where I take a year off, I want to make this division great again so let's just stay active."
Undefeated 18-0 'Nomad' calls out the welterweight champion
When it comes to who's next, there have been two names consistently touted by Belal Muhammad: former champion Kamaru Usman, and 'Bogeyman' of the division in Shavkat Rakhmonov.
"Shavkat's the bogeyman that thinks he can beat everybody, but I also like a back-and-forth of talking too with Usman and those fights are more exciting too because it gives me something to make him shut up about."
"It's all respect with Shavkat obviously, but for me, it doesn’t really matter who the UFC are talking about booking, we have a gameplan for everybody."
Muhammad noted that the 'Nigerian Nightmare' would have probably been next in line had he not lost to Khamzat Chimaev in his last bout, and that he'll likely need one more win before getting the next title shot.
Luckily, it didn't take long for the breakdown to reach the ears of the 18-0 'Nomad', who took to social media to state that 'Who's next' shouldn't even be a question.
"18-0 with 100% finishes or 0-3 in the last three fights. I think there should be no question who fights for the title."
At the time of writing, Shavkat Rakhmonov is the #3 ranked welterweight in the world, with Kamaru Usman currently retaining the #2 spot.
