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Because the newly crowned UFC welterweight champion surveys his division, there may be a certain expectation that the following title fight might be all the way down to whether Conor McGregor makes his return by the top of 2024.
Following his dominant five-round decision win over Leon Edwards back in July, welterweight champion Belal Muhammad guarantees to stay more lively than his predecessor – but any plans for his next title defense might need a ‘Notorious’ dependency.
Belal Muhammad reveals ‘Notorious’ timeline for next UFC title fight
Talking to MMA Junkie earlier this week, welterweight king Belal ‘Remember the Name’ Muhammad explained why he’s so desperate to get back within the octagon, only a couple of weeks after securing the 170lb title.
“My early goal was to be the champion; my next goal is to be the perfect welterweight to ever do it, I would like to be up there and cemented as one in every of the GOATs of the welterweight division.
“I’m already taking a look at what’s next for me and who’s next – we’re going to have this title for some time, and I just can’t wait to get on the market and begin fighting again.”
Yet having just celebrated his 36th birthday, Muhammad knows that the window to secure GOAT status is one which’ll rapidly close, which is why he’s targeting his next title fight for the ultimate PPV of the yr.
“I’d quite fight than not fight; so hopefully if I can get into the last card of the yr in December, that’ll be great for me.”
That December card, UFC 310, has not yet been officially announced by the promotion, but is predicted to happen on the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Unfortunately, Muhammad knows that he’ll likely need to ditch those plans for a December comeback, should the one and only Conor McGregor be set to make his return on that very same card.
“I feel that makes numerous sense, but you simply never know in the event that they don’t wish to put no person on McGregor’s card – but I doubt McGregor’s even fighting… So, in the event that they need anyone for that, I’ll be their Alex Pereira to step up.”
Muhammad might be right in assuming that if McGregor vs Chandler is rebooked for UFC 310, the promotion likely wouldn’t wish to schedule a welterweight title fight for the co-main event.
The Irishman has headlined each card that he’s been an element of since 2015 (vs Dennis Siver), and there hasn’t been a title fight under McGregor’s name since Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson back in 2016.
“I’m in training within the gym, my boy Nacho is fighting at The Sphere in September, so I’ll be in camp with him helping,” continued Muhammad, as he also took aim at the person who he wrestled the title away from in Manchester.
“I’m still motivated [and] I’m able to go, I’m not going to be a Leon Edwards where I take a yr off, I need to make this division great again so let’s just stay lively.”
Undefeated 18-0 ‘Nomad’ calls out the welterweight champion
In relation to who’s next, there have been two names consistently touted by Belal Muhammad: former champion Kamaru Usman, and ‘Bogeyman’ of the division in Shavkat Rakhmonov.
“Shavkat’s the bogeyman that thinks he can beat everybody, but I also like a back-and-forth of talking too with Usman and people fights are more exciting too since it gives me something to make him shut up about.”
“It’s all respect with Shavkat obviously, but for me, it doesn’t really matter who the UFC are talking about booking, we now have a gameplan for everyone.”
Muhammad noted that the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ would have probably been next in line had he not lost to Khamzat Chimaev in his last bout, and that he’ll likely need another win before getting the following title shot.
Luckily, it didn’t take long for the breakdown to achieve the ears of the 18-0 ‘Nomad’, who took to social media to state that ‘Who’s next’ shouldn’t even be an issue.
“18-0 with 100% finishes or 0-3 within the last three fights. I feel there must be no doubt who fights for the title.”
On the time of writing, Shavkat Rakhmonov is the #3 ranked welterweight on this planet, with Kamaru Usman currently retaining the #2 spot.
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