3 next opponents for Belal Muhammad after UFC 304 victory

As a huge fan of Belal Muhammad and the MMA scene, I was absolutely thrilled when he pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year against Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in Manchester. Muhammad’s dominance in both striking and wrestling, especially in Edwards’ home country where he had never lost before, was a sight to behold.

On July 27, Belal Muhammad pulled off a major surprise at UFC 304 in Manchester. He defeated Leon Edwards via unanimous decision and claimed the welterweight title, an achievement that’s not common for fighters of his age (36) in lower weight classes. This victory was particularly noteworthy as it took place in Edwards’ home country, where he had previously never lost a fight. During the match, Muhammad outperformed Edwards in both striking and grappling techniques, exposing some weaknesses in Edwards’ game. Edwards has shown discomfort with intense boxing and heavy wrestling, an approach that Colby Covington should have employed during their previous encounter. As the new champion, Muhammad now has several viable opponents to defend his title against.

1. Ian Machado Garry

Muhammad has Ian Machado Garry as a promising candidate. With a perfect record of 15 wins, Garry is being groomed by the UFC as a potential successor to Conor McGregor. Although he has an irritating persona and often imitates McGregor, Garry is only 26 and boasts impressive striking and wrestling abilities. He’s constantly seeking to expand his skillset by training at renowned gyms like Kill Cliff FC, Team Renegade, and Chute Box.

I began my MMA journey with Cage Warriors back in 2019. Two years later, in June 2021, I claimed the welterweight title against Jack Grant through a unanimous decision, earning me a UFC contract as a reward. In November 2021, at UFC 268, I made my debut and knocked out Jordan Williams in the first round. The year 2022 saw me outclass Darian Weeks and Gabriel Green with unanimous decisions at UFC 273 and UFC 276 respectively. Each fight ended with me winning all three rounds. The year 2023 brought more progress as I knocked out Song Kenan and Daniel Rodriguez, which boosted my ranking. As a ranked welterweight contender, I advanced my career by defeating Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Michael Page through decisions.

Among the three possibilities, the least probable one is Garry’s contention, given that he holds the lowest ranking among the top prospects at No. 7. Moreover, his recent fights have failed to produce finishes, a common occurrence between him and Muhammad. A title bout featuring these two seems unlikely due to the lack of excitement in their fighting styles. However, it’s not entirely ruled out if the UFC intends to rapidly elevate Garry to stardom. The prospect of an Irish champion could be appealing to the UFC, considering the success they experienced with McGregor and its positive financial implications.

2. Jack Della Maddalena

Muhammad has a strong contender in Jack Della Maddalena coming up next. With a record of 17 consecutive wins, Maddalen is known for his exceptional boxing skills in UFC. He boasts robust defense against takedowns and manages to escape from them effectively. At the age of 27, he continues to hone his abilities, making him a formidable opponent for Muhammad. Maddalena trains with Scrappy MMA, but occasionally collaborates with fighters from City Kickboxing, further enhancing his skills.

Maddalena kicked off his MMA journey with Eternal MMA in Australia back in 2016. His initiation was rocky, marked by two early defeats – both via knockout and submission. However, these setbacks served as valuable lessons for him as he subsequently racked up nine consecutive victories, all ending in impressive finishes – eight knockouts and one submission. Maddalena eventually secured a UFC contract following his triumph on Dana White’s Contender Series against Ange Loosa in September 2021. His UFC debut was a smashing success with a first-round knockout over Pete Rodriguez at UFC 270. Subsequently, Maddalena continued his winning streak by defeating notable opponents like Danny Roberts, Randy Brown, Kevin Holland, and Gilbert Burns in seven consecutive fights.

An compelling argument exists for granting Maddellana a title shot next. He currently holds the fifth spot in the rankings, not just given, but earned through a knockout win over a current top five fighter, Burns. However, Maddellana faced adversity during their bout, falling behind on all scorecards. The UFC might prefer him to secure another victory against a top five opponent, with a more convincing performance this time. This potential matchup could generate significant interest due to its high caliber and excitement. Ultimately, Maddellana is an enticing challenger, brimming with potential, and capable of posing challenges for any other top contender.

3. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Among the top three contenders for the UFC welterweight title, Shavkat Rakhmonov has emerged as the strongest contender in recent times. With a perfect record of 18 wins and no losses in the UFC, he is currently unbeaten in the rounds. Rakhmonov’s impressive victories include eight knockouts and ten submissions. Moreover, he poses the greatest threat to Muhammad’s new title reign as he continues to make waves in the division with his dominant performances at Kill Cliff FC, a renowned gym where top welterweight contenders like Burns, Vicente Luque, and Kamaru Usman train.

Rakhmonov, a native of Shurchi, Uzbekistan, and the first Kazakh fighter in the UFC, began his MMA journey in 2014 with two Kazakh organizations. In both, he became a successful welterweight champion with an unbeaten record of 12-0. Rakhmonov joined the UFC in 2020 and made his debut at UFC 254 against Alex Oliveira, which he won via submission in the first round. Since then, he has defeated notable opponents like Michel Prazeres, Carlston Harris, Magny, Neal, and Stephen Thompson. At just 29 years old, Rakhmonov is an electrifying rising star in the UFC.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: Rakhmonov hasn’t beaten any of the top-five opponents in the UFC yet, but that’s not entirely his fault. Many of these contenders were either injured or had commitments that kept them out of the ring. However, I can’t ignore the fact that Rakhmonov is a formidable opponent who always finds a way to finish fights and never loses a round. He submitted Neal, who hadn’t been submitted in a decade, and Thompson, who had never submitted before in his career. Ranked No. 3 among the contenders, Rakhmonov is definitely bringing something valuable to the title picture. The UFC knows it, and that’s why they’re eagerly anticipating the Muhammad vs Rakhmonov fight before the year ends.

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2024-07-29 05:35