July 31, 2024 11:20 am ET
Belal Muhammad is the brand new UFC welterweight champion, one thing the oddsmakers didn’t see coming. However maybe what’s most shocking is how he bought it accomplished.
Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) pulled off the upset by taking the UFC welterweight belt from Leon Edwards this previous Saturday in the primary occasion of UFC 304 in Manchester, England. He did so by out grappling Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC), but in addition out hanging him – which left many in awe.
Earlier than the occasion, Muhammad and particularly his boxing coach Horacio Gutierrez bought a whole lot of warmth for some daring claims. Within the first UFC Embedded episode for UFC 304, Gutierrez mentioned that they had improved Muhammad’s boxing and gotten him a Mexican fashion much like the legendary Canelo Alvarez and Juan Manuel Marquez.
“We went viral,” Gutierrez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “The second that clip got here out on UFC’s Embedded, we went viral for that remark. Such as you mentioned, no one believed us that Belal may beat Leon Edwards along with his arms. Leon Edwards is among the greatest, if not the most effective striker within the division, and but I mentioned that with all the boldness. “I used to be positive of what I used to be saying due to the work we put in. I noticed Belal’s arms and the way he labored on them each single day, how he was touchdown, and the way he was sparring. I didn’t say that simply to speak, and we confirmed that within the cage. Belal related with far more pictures, and his jab was unimaginable. His arms actually had been key in getting us this victory.
“Leon Edwards ready to defend the takedowns as a result of he knew that was coming, however he by no means imagined that Belal was going to get him in bother on the toes, after which the takedown would come simple. It was very satisfying. Now I’m getting memes from folks evaluating Canelo and Belal, however in a optimistic method. Now they consider. We’re going to maintain working, there’s quite a bit to enhance, however we’re pleased with our work.”
Gutierrez, a former UFC fighter who shifted his focus to teaching, was delighted to see Muhammad lastly obtain his dream of changing into a UFC champion. Gutierrez, together with the workforce at Valle Circulate Placing in Chicago, couldn’t be happier for Muhammad.
“I’ve fought within the UFC, however it is a totally different feeling,” Gutierrez mentioned. “When somebody you care a couple of ton is combating, somebody you’ve spent a lot time with, you get much more nerves as a result of you possibly can’t do something. You’re not the one combating in that cage. All you are able to do is preserve your thoughts clear, so you possibly can assist get the win.
“It was unimaginable. There was a distinct sort of nerves as a result of we had been combating for a world time, and it was my first UFC championship combat that I cornered. It was totally different, however we dealt with it very effectively. I knew he had received as soon as the combat was over. I believed he received 4 rounds, at worst three, so we had been simply ready for the choice. After they lifted his hand and mentioned, ‘And new,’ it was an unimaginable feeling I can’t clarify.”
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