Belal Muhammad hasn’t always been a fan favorite, and even some UFC fighters have trolled him since he captured the welterweight title. However, in his recent title defense against Jack Della Maddalena, many critics were won over by Muhammad’s impressive performance. Although he lost the belt, his showing was widely praised. Still, despite that effort, UFC welterweight Kevin Holland didn’t hold back and took a jab at Muhammad following the loss.
The tension between Holland and Muhammad continues to grow following Muhammad’s recent title loss. At UFC 316 media day, Holland was asked about Muhammad dropping the welterweight belt to Della Maddalena at UFC 315 — and he didn’t hide his delight. Calling it “amazing” to witness, Holland went on to downplay Muhammad’s abilities, saying,
“It was pretty cool to see Belal lose the belt. I’ve never thought the world of Belal. He’s a hard worker, he puts in the work. But I mean, camps boil down to who’s going to put in the most work and as long as you outwork during the camp. You can damn sure outwork him in the fight. That’s all he really has is work ethic.”
Meanwhile, the former welterweight champion is looking to make a strong comeback in the UFC. Muhammad is planning his return on the same pay-per-view event where JDM is scheduled to fight, hoping to pick up a win and call for a title shot right after.
Chael Sonnen Praises Belal For Staying Focused And Calling For A Comeback Fight
Muhammad may have lost his title at UFC 315, but he didn’t lose the respect of the MMA world. After a grueling five-round battle against Jack Della Maddalena, Muhammad earned praise for both his performance and his mindset. UFC veteran Chael Sonnen applauded him for immediately calling out Shavkat Rakhmonov after the loss — the same opponent he was targeting during his reign. Speaking to The Schmo, Sonnen highlighted Muhammad’s consistency and professionalism, saying,
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“He’s set an example for everybody. All Belal has ever done is fight the hardest guys, ask for opportunities, and keep his mouth shut when it doesn’t go his way. The best thing he’s done is he called for his next fight.”
Sonnen praised Muhammad for staying true to his word, saying calling out Rakhmonov after a loss shows real character. He added that even if Belal doesn’t get the credit, he definitely deserves it.
