UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is keeping a keen eye on the UFC Kansas City fundamental event.
The UFC welterweight division’s title picture is stacked. Between Ian Machado Garry, Carlos Prates, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Sean Brady, there are many budding challengers ready for a crack on the welterweight belt.
Belal Muhammad will defend it next weekend against Jack Della Maddalena within the UFC 315 fundamental event. Weeks before, Garry and Prates will square off in a pivotal welterweight matchup this Saturday at UFC Kansas City.
While Muhammad makes his final preparations for UFC 315, he’s keeping a detailed eye on what transpires at UFC Kansas City.
Belal Muhammad makes his pick for Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates
Muhammad will make his first UFC welterweight title defense after winning the belt over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 last July. A win over Maddalena could potentially put Muhammad up against his teammate, Islam Makhachev, who’s contemplating a move as much as welterweight for his next fight.
Garry and Prates each imagine they’re deserving of a title shot with a victory this weekend in Kansas City. But Brady, Rakhmonov, and other welterweights are also in the combination, making the talk surrounding the welterweight hierarchy a vigorous one.
Muhammad believes Prates and/or Garry might be potential future opponents, but he believes one side holds the advantage within the Octagon.
In a recent tweet, Muhammad predicted the UFC Kansas City headliner.
“I believe Ian Garry gets it done this weekend,” Muhammad posted.
Garry was furious when Maddalena got the title shot over him and other contenders for UFC 315. This, despite Garry’s loss to Rakhmonov at UFC 310, in comparison with Maddalena’s unbeaten ascent up the welterweight ladder.
But Garry could make an announcement this weekend with an emphatic victory over Prates. With Rakhmonov on the sidelines with an injury, and Brady’s return timeline uncertain, Garry could potentially skip the road after UFC Kansas City.
Bad blood brews between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates ahead of fight night
Within the meantime, tensions between Garry and Prates have ramped up in recent days ahead of UFC Kansas City. The 2 welterweights have traded jabs in recent days, with Garry calling Prates a quitter and calling himself ‘more of a Brazilian’ than his opponent.
Prates’s mother implored him to make it a fast night on the office this weekend, expecting a fast finish from her son. Prates also mocked Garry after ending a mutual opponent that the Irish star couldn’t.
Garry and Prates are each seeking to make statements this weekend at UFC Kansas City. A win is not going to only move them one step closer to a title shot but in addition earn the eye of Muhammad.
