Belal Muhammad is focusing on the future following his title defense defeat at UFC 315.
In the intense five-round main event, “Remember the Name” lost a decision to Jack Della Maddalena, surrendering his welwelterweight championship. All three judges awarded the fight to Della Maddalena, two of them with close 48-47 scores.
Muhammad later shared his thoughts on the loss and his plans via social media.
“Allah’s plan is the best plan. Alhamdillah for everything. Thank you to all my supporters. I`ve been here before and I`ll be back.”
This loss marked Muhammad`s first defeat in over six years, dating back to a unanimous decision loss against Geoff Neal. He had amassed an 11-fight unbeaten streak, which included a 2021 no-contest against Leon Edwards due to an accidental eye poke. Muhammad avenged this against Edwards at UFC 304, securing a dominant decision victory to claim the welterweight title.
Unfortunately, Muhammad must now regroup after his unsuccessful title defense. An immediate rematch appears unlikely, especially with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev potentially targeting the welterweight division and several contenders vying for a shot.
Potential future opponents for Muhammad include undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov (who was originally slated to fight Muhammad for the title at UFC 310 before Muhammad withdrew due to a foot infection), Ian Machado Garry, and Sean Brady (whom Muhammad has previously defeated). The outcomes of upcoming fights, such as Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales and Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley, may also influence the welterweight title picture and Muhammad`s next steps.
