Belal Muhammad is making ready for his first title protection with the reigning UFC welterweight champion most probably returning in December.
That’s based on his supervisor Ali Abdelaziz, who confirmed that Muhammad is coaching and able to struggle earlier than the tip of the 12 months.
“Belal is able to go in December,” Abdelaziz advised MMA Combating. “No drawback. We’re able to go, however the UFC has to announce. I can’t be asserting a struggle in your podcast. Most certainly you’re going to see for positive Belal in December. Towards who, the place, when, this can be a Dana White query.
“It may be Shavkat [Rakhmonov]. It may be [Kamaru] Usman. It may be regardless of the UFC needs. I stated in case you’re the champ, you must defend the title towards [whoever] they’re going to present you. It doesn’t matter who.”
If December occurs, Muhammad would nearly actually struggle at UFC 310, which is scheduled on Dec. 7 at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas.
So far as potential opponents, Muhammad has seemingly singled out undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov as his most probably problem, though he’s positively engaged in a disagreement with former champion Kamaru Usman as properly.
Abdelaziz really manages each Muhammad and Usman and he expects that struggle to occur in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later, however it’s simply unclear if that’s the one which occurs subsequent.
“Kamaru is certainly one of my greatest buddies, my brother, Belal is my brother, I really like each of those guys,” Abdelaziz stated. “On the finish of the day, two alpha males. Kamaru maintain this crown for a very long time, Belal has earned the crown. He’s the king now. Kamaru believes he can nonetheless be the king. I feel these guys don’t respect one another an excessive amount of, to be trustworthy with you.
“You possibly can just about see these guys struggle sooner or later for positive. I feel one of many largest fights within the welterweight division is Kamaru vs. Belal. It’s not even shut. No person even shut. Belal wants massive names to certify himself as one of many biggest welterweights of all time. He wants Kamaru Usman. Kamaru is the king of the welterweight division. Dana White says he’s the best of all-time. When these two guys struggle, it is going to be one of many largest fights within the welterweight division on the time.”
For his half, Abdelaziz guarantees that he’s not going to become involved within the disagreement between two of his fighters. He’s been right here earlier than. Abdelaziz says his solely job is ensuring the fighters keep wholesome, they get all the pieces they want from him, and each find yourself with larger financial institution accounts when it’s throughout.
“They are going to struggle,” Abdelaziz stated. “On the finish of the day, they’re two grown males. They each need the identical factor. I’m in the midst of this and my job is once they each struggle I’m going to ensure they make a complete bunch of cash and so they received all the pieces they want.
“Look, Marlon Moraes fought Henry Cejudo. Kamaru fought Gilbert [Burns]. Justin Gaethje fought Khabib [Nurmagomedov], all for the title, and I keep impartial. I’ll stay the identical.”
Whether or not it’s Rakhmonov or Usman, Abdelaziz says that Muhammad isn’t going to again down from any challenges thrown his method. He waited so lengthy to get his title shot that his supervisor believes Muhammad may be very anxious to start his championship reign.
“Belal will struggle anyone, too, don’t get it twisted,” Abdelaziz stated. “Belal just isn’t afraid of any man on this planet. He’s the champ for a cause. Kamaru additionally just isn’t afraid of anyone. I’m positive Shavkat just isn’t afraid of anyone. If you come to those high 5 guys, no one can say these guys are afraid or ducking anyone.
“The man who’s been ducking folks for years and he by no means fights is Colby Covington. He solely fights when it’s handy for him. That’s the one man I can say geese folks. Not anyone else.”
