Belal Muhammad didn’t stick with the sport plan.
Earlier this month, Muhammad misplaced the UFC welterweight title, dropping a unanimous choice to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. Heading into the struggle, Muhammad—identified for his grappling and strain—assured followers he was bringing “Canelo palms” to the desk in opposition to Della Maddalena. Most followers assumed this was bluster, till Muhammad spent a lot of the preventing willingly partaking in a putting battle with “JDM.” Many suspected that wasn’t the precise plan, and Muhammad confirmed as a lot on Friday.
“I believe I’ve the most effective group on this planet, a few of the greatest coaches on this planet, and we go into each struggle with a method and thought of what we wish to do,” Muhammad stated on Remember the Show. “Clearly, for us, what our technique was was to take down Jack. It wasn’t to go blow-for-blow with him, brawl-for-brawl with him.
“However, man, it’s a bizarre second whenever you’re coaching one thing a lot and also you’re getting higher at one thing, which I believe my putting has grown a lot and I’ve at all times stated it. Once I stated that within the lead-up, I wasn’t mendacity about it. ‘Bro, I can field with him, I can strike with him. I’m not afraid to strike with him.’ And I went on the market and I simply felt good.”
Whereas Muhammad had success on the ft, it finally wasn’t sufficient. However although he misplaced the title, Muhammad nonetheless doesn’t imagine his choice was a foul one.
“You know the way they are saying there’s a unique power whenever you’re a champion and also you’re getting 20 % higher, for me, I at all times thought I used to be the most effective on this planet,” Muhammad stated. “I nonetheless assume I’m the most effective on this planet. I used to be like, ‘Bro, I can strike with this man. Persons are telling me I can’t strike with him.’ Clearly, we misplaced the struggle, however we stood toe-to-toe with him. Folks can say no matter they wish to say and do no matter they wish to do, I went in opposition to the sport plan, I went alone, and on the finish of the day, I’m going to reside with that.
“But it surely got here down to 1 spherical, possibly one trade that might’ve swayed the judges a technique, so was my recreation plan improper? I might’ve went the opposite approach. May it have been a better struggle? It might’ve, however on the finish of the day, I like to struggle.”
The loss was Muhammad’s first since 2019, snapping an 11-fight unbeaten streak. It additionally dropped “Bear in mind the Title” out of the present title image, which is out of the blue overflowing with potential challengers at welterweight. However Muhammad believes one good win places him proper again in line to reclaim the title.
“I’m one struggle away from profitable the belt. I’m one struggle away from being there,” Muhammad stated. “… I’m not silly. I’m not going to take a seat there and assume, ‘Oh, I’m going to attend for a rematch.’ I wish to get again up. I wish to beat certainly one of these guys that’s a No. 1 contender. I wish to present you guys that I’m nonetheless the most effective on this planet. I wish to present them, ‘Who’re you going to place in entrance of me and watch what I do.’ …
“Once I’m wanting on the division, I’m wanting on the panorama of the division, I consider who it could possibly be, clearly, jumps out to the desk, if Kamaru [Usman] wins, I really feel like will probably be Kamaru if he will get previous [Joaquin] Buckley,” Muhammad added later. “You’ve acquired Ian Garry, you’ve acquired [Sean] Brady, and even when Buckley wins. … Whoever is subsequent goes to need to win one, so I believe all of it comes all the way down to how they match everyone up.”
Although he’s quickly to show 37 years previous, Muhammad says this loss is only a minor setback. It took him a very long time to lastly get his title alternative, and he’s not able to name it quits simply because he misplaced his first title protection.
“I nonetheless have that starvation, want to maintain reaching greatness,” Muhammad stated. “There’s nothing in me that’s like, ‘I’m accomplished now, I’m unhappy now, let’s see what YouTubers are on the market.’ I’m nonetheless chasing legacy, I’m nonetheless chasing GSP. GSP misplaced his belt and he gained it again. So for my mentality, it’s, ‘We’re nonetheless right here.’ I don’t care how previous they’re or how previous they assume I’m, go in there and beat me. And there’s not numerous guys which can be in a position to do this.”
