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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Belal Muhammad
Belal Muhammad (born July 9, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Welterweight Champion. As of September 17, 2024, he is #5 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings. A professional competitor since 2012, he has also competed for Bellator and Titan FC.

Background

Muhammad was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, to Palestinian parents. He has four siblings: an older brother, older sister and two younger brothers. He wrestled at Bogan High School where he had future PFL champion Louis Taylor as his wrestling coach. Taylor was later instrumental in training Muhammad for the latter's amateur career. He studied to become a lawyer and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Mixed martial arts career

Shortly after a TKO victory over Steve Carl to become the Titan Fighting Championships Welterweight Champion, and push his record to 9–0, Muhammad signed with the UFC in 2016.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On July 7, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 90, Muhammad made his UFC debut, as a short-notice replacement, against Alan Jouban. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night bonuses for their performances.

Muhammad next faced Augusto Montaño on September 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 94. He won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Muhammad was expected to face Lyman Good on November 12, 2016, at UFC 205. However, on October 24, Good was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test sample collected ten days earlier. He was replaced by Vicente Luque. Muhammad lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Muhammad was a short notice replacement and stepped in to face Randy Brown on February 11, 2017, at UFC 208. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Jordan Mein on July 8, 2017, at UFC 213. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Muhammad was expected to face Jesse Taylor on November 19, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura. However, on September 13, it was announced that Taylor was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test conducted on August 22. He was replaced by Tim Means. Muhammad won the fight via split decision.

Muhammad was expected to face Niko Price on June 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 131. However, Price was removed from the bout on May 22 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by promotional newcomer Chance Rencountre. Muhammad won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad was scheduled to meet Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on September 22, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137. However, on September 14, 2018, Muhammad was pulled from the bout and he was replaced by newcomer Luigi Vendramini.

Muhammad faced Geoff Neal on January 19, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 143. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Curtis Millender on April 13, 2019, at UFC 236. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Takashi Sato on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round. This win earned Muhammad his first Performance of the Night award.

Muhammad was expected to face Lyman Good on April 18, 2020, at UFC 249. However on April 4, Good pulled out due to COVID-19 infection. The bout was rebooked and eventually took place on June 20, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad was expected to face Sean Brady on December 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 183. However in late October, Brady had a broken nose and had to pull out of their bout, and he was replaced by Dhiego Lima. Subsequently, Muhammed was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the week leading up to the event and the bout was scrapped from the card and the bout was rescheduled to February 13, 2021, at UFC 258 Muhammad won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Leon Edwards on March 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 187. During the second round, Edwards poked Muhammad in the eye rendering him unable to continue. The fight was declared a no contest.

Muhammad faced Demian Maia on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263. Muhammad won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Stephen Thompson on December 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Vicente Luque in a rematch on April 16, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 34. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Sean Brady on October 22, 2022, at UFC 280. He won the bout via TKO stoppage at the end of the second round. UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was one of his cornermen for this fight. He received his second Performance of the Night bonus.

Muhammad faced Gilbert Burns on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288. Muhammad won by unanimous decision.

UFC Welterweight Champion

Muhammad faced Leon Edwards in a rematch, for the UFC Welterweight Championship on July 27, 2024, at UFC 304. He won the fight and the title by unanimous decision.

Muhammad was scheduled to make his first UFC Welterweight Championship defense against undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov on December 7, 2024 at UFC 310. However, due to a bone infection in his foot, Muhammad was forced to withdraw and it is unknown whether or not Rakhmonov will remain on the card or if the bout will be moved to a later date.

Professional grappling career

Muhammad was scheduled to compete against Tarek Suleiman in the no gi co-main event of ADXC 1 on October 20, 2023. He withdrew from the match on short notice and was replaced by Marvin Vettori.

Personal life

Muhammad is a Muslim, and an outspoken supporter of Palestine. He has denounced the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis showing support for Palestinians while also condemning antisemitism.

On June 1, 2020, businesses owned by Muhammad's father and cousins in Chicago were looted and destroyed as a result of the George Floyd unrest.

He threw the ceremonial first pitch for the Chicago Cubs on July 28, 2021.

He represents Palestine.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
28 matches 24 wins 3 losses
By knockout 5 1
By submission 1 0
By decision 18 2
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 24–3 (1) Leon Edwards Decision (unanimous) UFC 304 July 27, 2024 5 5:00 Manchester, England Won the UFC Welterweight Championship.
Win 23–3 (1) Gilbert Burns Decision (unanimous) UFC 288 May 6, 2023 5 5:00 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win 22–3 (1) Sean Brady TKO (punches) UFC 280 October 22, 2022 2 4:47 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Performance of the Night.
Win 21–3 (1) Vicente Luque Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 April 16, 2022 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 20–3 (1) Stephen Thompson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus December 18, 2021 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 19–3 (1) Demian Maia Decision (unanimous) UFC 263 June 12, 2021 3 5:00 Glendale, Arizona, United States
NC 18–3 (1) Leon Edwards NC (accidental eye poke) UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad March 13, 2021 2 0:18 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Accidental eye poke rendered Muhammad unable to continue.
Win 18–3 Dhiego Lima Decision (unanimous) UFC 258 February 13, 2021 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 17–3 Lyman Good Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov June 20, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 16–3 Takashi Sato Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 242 September 7, 2019 3 1:55 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Performance of the Night.
Win 15–3 Curtis Millender Decision (unanimous) UFC 236 April 13, 2019 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Loss 14–3 Geoff Neal Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw January 19, 2019 3 5:00 Brooklyn, New York, United States
Win 14–2 Chance Rencountre Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rivera vs. Moraes June 1, 2018 3 5:00 Utica, New York, United States
Win 13–2 Tim Means Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura November 19, 2017 3 5:00 Sydney, Australia
Win 12–2 Jordan Mein Decision (unanimous) UFC 213 July 8, 2017 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 11–2 Randy Brown Decision (unanimous) UFC 208 February 11, 2017 3 5:00 Brooklyn, New York, United States
Loss 10–2 Vicente Luque KO (punches) UFC 205 November 12, 2016 1 1:19 New York City, New York, United States
Win 10–1 Augusto Montaño TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson September 17, 2016 3 4:19 Hidalgo, Texas, United States
Loss 9–1 Alan Jouban Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez July 7, 2016 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 9–0 Steve Carl TKO (punches) Titan FC 38 April 30, 2016 4 4:07 Miami, Florida, United States Won the inaugural Titan FC Welterweight Championship.
Win 8–0 Zane Kamaka Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 35 September 19, 2015 3 5:00 Ridgefield, Washington, United States
Win 7–0 Keith Johnson Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 33 March 20, 2015 3 5:00 Mobile, Alabama, United States Catchweight (174 lb) bout; Johnson missed weight.
Win 6–0 Chris Curtis Decision (unanimous) Hoosier Fight Club 21 September 13, 2014 3 5:00 Valparaiso, Indiana, United States
Win 5–0 A.J. Matthews Decision (unanimous) Bellator 112 March 14, 2014 3 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 4–0 Garrett Gross Decision (unanimous) Hoosier Fight Club 18 November 9, 2013 3 5:00 Valparaiso, Indiana, United States
Win 3–0 Jimmy Fritz TKO (punches) Hoosier Fight Club 15 April 6, 2013 2 2:19 Valparaiso, Indiana, United States
Win 2–0 Quinton McCottrell Decision (unanimous) Bellator 84 December 14, 2012 3 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 1–0 Justin Brock TKO (punches) Hoosier Fight Club 12 August 18, 2012 1 2:17 Valparaiso, Indiana, United States Welterweight debut.

Pay-per-view bouts

No. Event Fight Date Venue City PPV buys
1. UFC 304 Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 July 27, 2024 Co-op Live Manchester, England, United Kingdom Not Disclosed

See also

References

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Awards and achievements
Preceded by 14th UFC Welterweight Champion
July 27, 2024 – present 		Incumbent
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