Belal Muhammad vowed not to keep his fans waiting for long. And as it turns out, he is a man of his word. After suffering a gruelling defeat at the hands of Jack Della Maddalena, Muhammad was expected to take some time off. However, the former champion did point out that instead of giving excuses, he wants to build his way back to the top by proving he is the best. In alignment with his words, Muhammad seems to have gotten himself into a fight this year.
In a recent episode of the ‘Anik Florian Podcast,’ UFC insider Jon Anik reflected on the Belal Muhammad situation. And soon, he came up with a major announcement. According to Anik, Muhammad will be facing off against Shavkat Rakhmonov in October this year.
“Belal vs Shavkat in October. There’s your breaking news,” said Anik.
🚨 Jon Anik says Belal Muhammad will be fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov in October 👀
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 25, 2025
"Belal vs Shavkat in October. There's your breaking news."
🎥 @AnikFlorianPod #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/MCQlybMmuI
If the announcement is indeed true, the fight is significant for many reasons. While Muhammad was the champion, Rakhmonov was supposed to fight him for the title. Unfortunately, that bout was canceled.
Now, with Muhammad getting his hands on Rakhmonov, it will be a litmus test to see how he fares against a fierce striker. Meanwhile, as the UFC realm awaits the official announcement, Belal Muhammad dropped an inspiring statement after his welterweight title loss.
Belal Muhammad Vows To Rise To The Top
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One bad day in the office does not determine one’s career. And this is exactly the mantra that Muhammad wants to believe in. Within weeks of his defeat to Della Maddalena, Muhammad is looking to find his way back to the top. And to do that, he is ready to do whatever it takes. No excuses. In his recent appearance on the ‘Anik Florian Podcast,’ Muhammad promised that his critics would not see him break down.
“They’re not gonna see me quit, they’re not gonna see me break. What I’m gonna do is take that loss, grow from it, get better from it, and just continue to be a different animal and keep continuing to do what they think I can’t do,” said Muhammad.
🫡Belal Muhammad is humble in defeat and vows to rise again “I’m not gonna blame anyone. I’ll grow from this and come back stronger.”
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 24, 2025
"I'm not a guy that's gonna sit there and put blame on anybody. People love to see you fail, people love to see you fail, and they waited 6 years… pic.twitter.com/sb0RVPUjBs
Thus, with the situation looking utterly interesting, it remains to be seen what happens next.
Also Read: Belal Muhammad Wants To Settle Score With Kamaru Usman In October
