Belal Muhammad knows just winning on Saturday won’t be enough. With Islam Makhachev now the UFC’s new welterweight champion and fellow contenders Michael Morales and Carlos Prates turning heads with violent finishes at UFC 322, Muhammad understands he has to deliver something big of his own against Ian Machado Garry at UFC Fight Night 265.
The former champion meets Machado Garry (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in the co-main event at ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar (ESPN+), in what feels like a must-make-a-statement fight for his career.
Muhammad (24-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC), who lost his belt to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May before Della Maddalena dropped it to Makhachev, said he’s been brutally honest with himself about that setback.