Belal Muhammad continues to stake his claim as a top welterweight contender, but thinks the rankings don’t accurately reflect that.
Muhammad (22-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) stopped formerly undefeated Sean Brady by TKO this past Saturday at UFC 280 and is unbeaten in his past nine fights. Those wins came over the likes of former title challengers Stephen Thompson and Demian Maia, as well as dangerous finisher Vicente Luque.
Although he was pushed one spot up the UFC’s welterweight rankings, the now No. 4-ranked Muhammad still finds himself behind Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington, which he doesn’t understand.
“I know there’s talk about (Chimaev) against Colby, which doesn’t make any sense,” Muhammad told ESPN. “I don’t think Colby is going to show up. Colby doesn’t fight tough fights. He doesn’t fight guys that have a chance to beat him. Even if they make that fight, I don’t think he’s showing up. I don’t think he’s going to make it to wherever that fight is. He can talk a big game, but actions speak louder than words and he hasn’t fought anybody that’s been winning.
“If you’re looking at Khamzat, all right: You beat Gilbert (Burns), but what other ranked guy have you fought? Your last fight, you missed weight by nine pounds. So why are you still ranked above me? Why is Colby ranked above me? He hasn’t beat anybody but lightweights and guys on losing streaks.”
Muhammad has fought welterweights ranked below him on numerous occasions. But after bouncing Brady out of the ranks of the unbeaten, Muhammad only sees two viable options for him next.
“For me, it’s either the title shot or Khamzat,” Muhammad said. “I don’t think there’s anybody else that makes any sense. I’m not fighting down anymore. I think I earned it with this one, to fight up. Obviously the rematch is there for (Kamaru) Usman and (champion) Leon (Edwards), but I should be either the replacement for that one, or if Usman wants to take more time off – you don’t know how he’s going to come back from that knockout. Sometimes you spar, sometimes you still see blurriness, blah, blah, blah. But if not, I want to be on the same card and I want to be fighting Khamzat.”
