Last weekend, Belal Muhammad lost his championship by the slimmest of margins, but he undoubtedly gained something almost as important: recognition from the mixed martial arts fanbase.
Belal Muhammad Drops Strap in All-Time Classic
Making the first defense of his title after a failed booking against Shavkat Rakhmonov fell through, Belal Muhammad stepped into the Octagon to battle his first official challenger in the form of top Aussie competitor Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. The American was coming off a nearly year-long lay off since ripping the belt away from previous 170-lb gold standard Leon Edwards last July.