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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Bohn and Abbey Subhan

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for new champ Belal Muhammad after UFC 304 title win?

Belal Muhammad UFC UFC 304 Leon Edwards Shavkat Rakhmonov

Belal Muhammad became the first new UFC champion of 2024 Saturday when he dethroned Leon Edwards of the welterweight title at UFC 304.

Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) delivered a near-perfect performance over five rounds to earn a unanimous decision over Edwards (21-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, extending his unbeaten streak to 11 fights and starting a new chapter in the weight class.

The 170-pound division always has been one of the deepest in the UFC, and there will be no shortage of significant challengers coming for Muhammad’s belt. In fact, the next man up might be his stiffest test of all in the form of undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC).

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