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UFC champ Belal Muhammad unloads on Kamaru Usman after criticism: ‘You’re just a podcaster now’
. UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad was taken aback by Kamaru Usman’s recent comments.
While discussing the fallout from UFC 311 on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast, former champ Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) was critical of Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) and Islam Makhachev for agreeing not to fight each other in what could be a big champion vs. champion fight.
Muhammad found the comments to be hypocritical because, when Usman was champion, he refused to go up to middleweight to face then-champ and good friend Israel Adesanya. Beyond that, Muhammad thinks Usman should focus on what’s going to happen next in his own career rather than trying to play matchmaker.
“It’s so funny when you have a guy like him. He’s on a three-fight losing streak, and when these guys are calling him out, he’s acting like – he’s putting himself on this pedestal like he’s still the champ, like they shouldn’t be calling him out,” Muhammad told MMA Junkie Radio. “But, bro, you’re just a podcaster now. You haven’t fought in over a year. If you’re not gonna defend your ranking, then leave. Quit.
“You’re on a three-fight losing streak and should start looking at retirement now, or you’re gonna get on that Tony Ferguson losing streak, and people are gonna forget that you were ever champion.”
Usman ‘never wanted to fight the toughest guys’
Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman falls during his Middleweight bout against Russia’s Khamzat Chimaev in the Ultimate Fighting Championship 294 (UFC) event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 21, 2023. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images) Having lost three straight, Usman, 37, is on the roughest stretch of his pro career. He lost his welterweight title to Leon Edwards at UFC 278, failed to win an immediate rematch, and then came up short in a short-notice replacement against Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight bout.
When Usman was champ, he defended the title five times by facing Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal twice each, and also defeated Gilbert Burns. In Muhammad’s eyes, it was a reign that saw Usman take an easy path.
“We do know that Kamaru never wanted to fight the toughest guys,” Muhammad said. “He never looked for the toughest test. He was that champion that would be like, ‘Oh, I beat Colby already. Let me get that rematch with Colby again. I think he deserves it. Oh, I beat Masividal. Let me fight Masvidal again.’ He made it seem like he fought the next toughest guys, but he never fought the guys on a streak.
“… I was on a streak, and he acted like he didn’t know who I was. So we’ve seen it. When he had his first tough title defense against Leon Edwards, he got knocked out and then he lost again to him. He was never a guy that chased the toughest test. So, it’s funny that he’s coming on now saying, ‘Oh, these guys, they act like they train together. No, they should be fighting each other.’ It’s like, ‘Bro, are you still a welterweight? Are you still trying to chase the title? Do you think you still have a chance? Why don’t you throw your name in the mix?’”
‘I just feel bad for him’
Despite the venom spit back at Usman, Muhammad recognizes that the former champ still has a valuable name. In fact, for “The Nigerian Nightmare” to get a shot at the title, Muhammad isn’t asking a lot: Just get back in the win column against solid competition.
“I just need Usman to get a win,” Muhammad said. “Like, he sucks so bad right now, like it’s just embarrassing where I just feel bad for him. Like he goes out there, you obviously have to fight somebody that’s on a streak. I think Buckley called him out. Buckley’s been killing it at 170. He just made Colby look like a rookie. I think he goes out there and figures out a way to beat him. I know they offered him JDM, but he turned it down because he’s a coward.
“So, I think for now, he’s just waiting waiting on the sidelines, trying to have that like Conor McGregor mentality of just whenever a welterweight fight happens, just tweeting out. Just so he gets attention or he gets in the headlines because people are forgetting about him. He has to fight somebody on a streak, and he has to beat them to even be considered to get a shot at this title.”
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC champ Belal Muhammad unloads on Kamaru Usman after criticism: ‘You’re just a podcaster now’
Belal Muhammad, the current UFC champion, is not one to hold back when it comes to speaking his mind. Recently, he took aim at former champion Kamaru Usman after Usman criticized Muhammad’s fighting style.In a scathing post on social media, Muhammad called out Usman, saying, “You’re just a podcaster now. You had your chance in the Octagon and you lost. Don’t try to come for me when you can’t even back it up anymore.”
Muhammad’s comments come after Usman made remarks about Muhammad’s fighting style, questioning his ability to compete at the highest level. Muhammad, however, was quick to shut down Usman’s critiques and remind him that he is now retired and no longer an active fighter.
Fans of both fighters are eagerly awaiting a response from Usman, as this public feud between the two champions continues to heat up. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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UFC, Belal Muhammad, Kamaru Usman, MMA, fighter, championship, podcast, criticism, feud, rivalry, sports, mixed martial arts, UFC news, combat sports
#UFC #champ #Belal #Muhammad #unloads #Kamaru #Usman #criticism #Youre #podcasterKamaru Usman urges Islam Makhachev to fight Belal Muhammad
Kamaru Usman believes Islam Makhachev should fight Belal Muhammad regardless of their training history.
UFC lightweight champion Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) is eager to move up a weight class and capture a second belt. However, standing in his way currently is UFC welterweight champion Muhammad, who has trained with Makhachev on numerous occasions.
Makhachev said as long as his friend, Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC), is champion, he’ll have to put his ambitions aside, which Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) heavily disagrees with.
“I think if I was him, the decision that I would make next, yeah, 100 percent I would definitely probably go up,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “This whole notion of Belal training with them, bro, no.
“I’m going up there, and I’m whipping him. I don’t care. Just because he comes into our camp, just tries to use our bodies and learn our style? I’m moving up, I’m whipping him, I’m taking that belt, and hey, I’m moving on to the next.”
It’s no surprise that Usman is pushing Makhachev to fight Muhammad, considering his current beef with the welterweight champion. Muhammad was quick to fire back at Usman, who is yet to compete since suffering his third consecutive loss to Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023.
“Stop speaking my name until you finally end your losing streak … or you change the podcast name to ‘loss after loss.’”
Stop speaking my name until you finally end your losing streak … or you change the podcast name to “loss after loss”
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 20, 2025
Makhachev is coming off a record-breaking fourth lightweight title defense against Renato Moicano in Saturday’s UFC 311 main event. He may not be willing to fight Muhammad, but he vowed not to retire before fighting for a second UFC title.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Kamaru Usman, the reigning UFC welterweight champion, recently took to social media to urge rising lightweight contender Islam Makhachev to fight Belal Muhammad.In a tweet, Usman expressed his belief that a fight between Makhachev and Muhammad would be an exciting matchup that fans would love to see. He also praised both fighters for their skills and toughness inside the Octagon.
Makhachev, who is currently on a seven-fight win streak in the lightweight division, has been making waves with his dominant performances. Muhammad, on the other hand, is coming off a impressive win over Dhiego Lima and is eager to continue climbing the ranks in the welterweight division.
While no official announcement has been made regarding a potential fight between Makhachev and Muhammad, Usman’s endorsement could help push the matchup forward. Fans will have to wait and see if these two talented fighters will indeed face off in the near future.
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Kamaru Usman, Islam Makhachev, Belal Muhammad, UFC, MMA, fight, rivalry, octagon, championship, welterweight, combat sports, professional fighters, UFC news, sports headlines
#Kamaru #Usman #urges #Islam #Makhachev #fight #Belal #MuhammadBelal Muhammad shares ‘perfect timeline’ for Shavkat Rakhmonov fight
LOS ANGELES – UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is targeting Shavkat Rakhmonov in the first half of the year.
Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) was expected to face Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) last month at UFC 310, but a bone infection in his foot forced him out. He recently has been spending time training with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, which has sparked his desire to compete again.
Muhammad’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told MMA Junkie that Muhammad should return in May, which works for the champ.
“Right after Ramadan, I think. May, June, is the perfect timeline for me,” Muhammad told MMA Junkie. “I started last week training with those guys down in Vegas. That was a nice shock to the body. It got me awoken. It let me know, ‘All right, we’ve got to get in shape-shape. So it just feels good to be training. I was at the PI. I was doing therapy everyday over there, so my body is finally getting back to normal and finally getting back to where it was.”
When Muhammad withdrew from UFC 310, Rakhmonov faced Ian Machado Garry in a five-round welterweight bout. Rakhmonov was able to fend off Machado Garry’s late surge, going the distance for the first time in his career.
Many think Rakhmonov lost his aura of invincibility after that fight, but Muhammad already had a plan in place prior.
“I was confident before the fight,” Muhammad said. “So now you’re just giving me an extra 25 minutes to watch you and see what you do. Everybody thinks he’s a RoboCop, he’s a robot, he’s just going to walk through you. The fact that he didn’t walk through him (Machado Garry), everyone thinks he sucks now, but we don’t look at that. We look at patterns.
“We look at our strategy and what we thought before the fight was going to work, and we saw it play out in that fight, and we think is still going to work. I don’t think he’s ever fought anybody like me. There’s not a lot of guys who ever fought a guy like me, so once you get into the cage with me, it’s different. He’s going to get into the cage with me, realize it’s different, and there’s levels to this. I’m going to show the world why I’m the best welterweight in the world.”
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Belal Muhammad, the UFC welterweight fighter, recently took to social media to share his ‘perfect timeline’ for a potential fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov. Muhammad, known for his impressive fighting skills and relentless determination, expressed his eagerness to step into the octagon with Rakhmonov, who is also making waves in the welterweight division.In his post, Muhammad outlined his ideal scenario for the fight, from the announcement to the preparation and ultimately to the victory. He highlighted the importance of proper training and mental preparation, emphasizing the need to focus on his strengths and exploit any weaknesses in his opponent.
Fans of both fighters have been eagerly anticipating a showdown between Muhammad and Rakhmonov, and it seems that Muhammad is equally excited about the prospect. With both fighters known for their aggressive fighting styles and never-say-die attitudes, a matchup between them promises to be a thrilling spectacle for UFC fans around the world.
Stay tuned for more updates on a potential fight between Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov, as both fighters continue to prepare and train for what could be an epic battle in the octagon.
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Belal Muhammad, Shavkat Rakhmonov, MMA fight, UFC, welterweight, Belal Muhammad interview, Shavkat Rakhmonov fight prediction, UFC news, MMA analysis
#Belal #Muhammad #shares #perfect #timeline #Shavkat #Rakhmonov #fightUFC champ Belal Muhammad back in training, reveals ‘perfect timeline’ for Shavkat title defense
Newly-crowned UFC welterweight champion, Belal Muhammad, was expected to make his first 170-pound title defense against undefeated division contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov, atop the UFC 310 pay-per-view (PPV) card last month in Las Vegas; however, a nasty bone infection bounced “Remember the Name” from the “Sin City” lineup.
Rakhmonov remained on the card to defeat top prospect Ian Garry.
“Right after Ramadan, I think. May, June, is the perfect timeline for me,” Muhammad told MMA Junkie about his Octagon return. “I started last week training with those guys down in Vegas. That was a nice shock to the body. It got me awoken. It let me know, ‘All right, we’ve got to get in shape-shape. So it just feels good to be training. I was at the PI. I was doing therapy everyday over there, so my body is finally getting back to normal and finally getting back to where it was.”
Muhammad was recently spotted training with the stars of UFC 311.
“We look at our strategy and what we thought before the (Garry) fight was going to work, and we saw it play out in that fight, and we think is still going to work,” Muhammad continued. “I don’t think [Shavkat’s] ever fought anybody like me. There’s not a lot of guys who ever fought a guy like me, so once you get into the cage with me, it’s different. He’s going to get into the cage with me, realize it’s different, and there’s levels to this. I’m going to show the world why I’m the best welterweight in the world.”
Muhammad, 36, has not competed since his championship victory over Leon Edwards in the UFC 304 main event last July in Manchester, a five-round performance that pushed “Remember the Name” to 24-3 with one No Contest. The promotion will likely make an announcement regarding Muhammad’s return in the coming weeks.
Belal Muhammad, the current UFC welterweight champion, is back in training and gearing up for his next title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov. In a recent interview, Muhammad revealed his ‘perfect timeline’ for the highly anticipated fight.Muhammad, who captured the welterweight title earlier this year, has been itching to get back into the Octagon and defend his title. After recovering from a minor injury, he is now back in training and feeling better than ever.
In the interview, Muhammad shared his excitement for the upcoming fight against Rakhmonov, who is considered one of the top contenders in the division. Muhammad expressed confidence in his abilities and believes he has what it takes to retain his title.
When asked about his timeline for the fight, Muhammad stated that he is aiming for a late summer or early fall showdown with Rakhmonov. He wants to make sure he is fully prepared and in peak condition for the fight, so he is taking his time to train and strategize accordingly.
Fans of the UFC can expect an action-packed bout between Muhammad and Rakhmonov, as both fighters are known for their aggressive fighting styles and impressive skill sets. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting matchup as the fight date draws closer.
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UFC champ, Belal Muhammad, training, Shavkat title defense, MMA, UFC news, champion, fight camp, training update, title defense timeline, Belal Muhammad training, Shavkat Rakhmonov, UFC title defense, MMA fighter, championship fight, UFC training camp, Belal Muhammad update.
#UFC #champ #Belal #Muhammad #training #reveals #perfect #timeline #Shavkat #title #defense
