Stephen Thompson vs. Belal Muhammad slated for UFC Vegas 45

Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Belal Muhammad after his UFC 263 win over Demian Maia.A key welterweight matchup is on tap for the UFC’s final show of 2021.

MMA Junkie confirmed on Thursday that #5 ranked Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson will take on #9 ranked Belal ‘Remember the Name’ Muhammad at UFC Vegas 45 on December 18th.

Thompson (16-5-1) is coming off a decision loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 264 in July. He’d previously scored a five-round decision victory over Geoff Neal last December, as well as a ‘Fight of the Night’ decision over Vicente Luque at UFC 244 in 2019. Thompson twice challenged for the welterweight title, going 0-1-1 against then champion…