UFC analysts Michael Chiesa and Alan Jouban previewed Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Welterweight champion Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) makes his first title protection in opposition to undefeated Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) within the UFC 310 essential occasion on Dec. 7 at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).
Chiesa, who faces Max Griffin on the identical evening, thinks Muhammad’s resume can’t be discounted. Whereas he’s not essentially choosing him to win, he wouldn’t be shocked if Muhammad bounced Rakhmonov out of the ranks of the unbeaten.
“It could be simple for folks to discredit and dismiss Belal as a result of whenever you take a look at Shavkat Rakhmonov, 18-0 with 10 submissions and eight KOs, (he’s) the boogeyman of the division proper now,” Chiesa advised ESPN. “However you take a look at Belal’s energy of schedule in his final six fights: Demian Maia, who was ranked when he fought him; (Stephen) ‘Wonderboy’ (Thompson), who was ranked above the highest 10; Vicente Luque, who was ranked (No.) 5 when he fought him.
“Sean Brady TKO’d him, took his 0; fought Gilbert Burns on brief discover in a five-round combat, beat him; after which dethrones Leon Edwards in his personal yard. Earlier than folks wish to dismiss Belal Muhammad due to who he’s combating, you simply take a look at that energy of schedule and also you’ve acquired to remind your self: This man is the champion for a cause, and I might not be shocked if he took Shavkat’s 0.”
Jouban, who spoiled Muhammad’s UFC debut in a Struggle of the Night time battle in 2016, thinks the champion has the talents to beat well-rounded Rakhmonov.
“Belal has confirmed time and time once more why he deserved the championship combat, he acquired the championship combat, and he deserves to be the champion now,” Jouban mentioned. “He seemed phenomenal in opposition to Leon Edwards. Leon Edwards is likely one of the higher grapplers within the division. He has outgrappled guys like Gunnar Nelson and so forth.
“And Belal Muhammad goes in there, dumps him on his head quite a few occasions, outwrestled him, manhandled him. Shavkat Rakhmonov although, this man does every little thing nicely, and so that is going to be, I feel, Belal’s hardest date. However I do suppose that Belal does have the grappling to get it accomplished.”
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