While Belal Muhammad was defeated in his welterweight title defense at UFC 315, his performance and reaction post-fight appear to have gained him new admirers.
In the main event this past Saturday, Muhammad faced Jack Della Maddalena for his first title defense. The bout ended in a hard-fought unanimous decision loss for Muhammad. Following the defeat, Muhammad showed class, not disputing the result or making excuses, simply stating on social media that he has “been here before and I’ll be back.”
Leading up to the fight, Muhammad had pledged to stand and trade strikes with Della Maddalena. Although he attempted nine takedowns, he largely honored his promise to keep the fight on the feet, which may have been a tactical disadvantage. However, this willingness to engage in a stand-up battle, combined with his humble acceptance of the loss, seems to have significantly boosted his standing with the audience.
