UFC welterweight champ Belal Muhammad believes he’s in a a lot harder division than middleweight titleholder Dricus du Plessis.
In an interview with Barstool Chicago, Muhammad was requested the identical query he’s been requested in nearly each interview since successful his title — would he combat coaching companion Islam Makhachev? “Bear in mind the Title,” as soon as once more, reiterated he has no real interest in preventing Makhachev, and if he had been to problem himself towards one other champ or in a brand new weight class, he’d go up a division.
“For me, I’d slightly go to 185 and let [Makhachev] simply take 170,” Muhammad stated. “Since I’ve already needed to combat my means as much as 170 — I’ve crushed 5 top-10 guys — I’m two fights away from with the ability to problem for [the middleweight title] and saying, ‘Hey, I need to be double champ.’ …
“I believe 185 might be the best weight class — moreover Khamzat [Chimaev]. If you take a look at that [UFC 312] major occasion, you’re like, ‘Bro, Strickland and du Plessis suck.’”
Muhammad has but to place his title on the road and was scheduled to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December earlier than an harm compelled the champ out of the bout. Rakhmonov went on to defeat short-notice substitute Ian Machado Garry and is anticipated to get his first championship alternative later this 12 months.
