‘He must hit rehab’

UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has dismissed Conor McGregor’s latest social media assault.

Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) lately acquired the UFC’s welterweight crown by dominating Leon Edwards at UFC 304. McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) fired verbal photographs at Muhammad, criticizing his preventing model and drawing energy, whereas vowing to develop into a three-division champion.

“I’d like to crush my left hook into Belal’s temple and take down the triple crown,” McGregor wrote in a since-deleted tweet. “I’d do it simply. And quick!

“To suppose this bum is now a UFC champion with zero knockdowns on his resume in any respect is so dangerous. The UFC’s most abysmal zero income producing fighter in trendy historical past.”

McGregor, who gained titles within the UFC’s featherweight and light-weight divisions, has 3 times at 170 kilos within the UFC. Not solely does Muhammad not see a path for a possible showdown within the octagon, he believes McGregor’s preventing profession is over.

“I don’t suppose he fights once more, ever,” Muhammad informed MMA Junkie. “I believe that he’s in that a part of his life now the place he’s beginning to understand persons are beginning to neglect about him. He loves that focus a lot, so when he sees one thing taking place within the UFC that’s getting headlines, he needs to take that focus.

“I get a struggle introduced and he needs to behave like, ‘Oh, I’ll struggle this man,’ and he is aware of persons are going to speak about it and talk about it. Even after massive fights – watch after the Max Holloway struggle in opposition to Ilia Topuria, he’s going to give you a silly speech.”

Muhammad is ready for his first title protection lower than 5 months after successful the title. He’ll tackle undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov in the primary occasion of UFC 310 at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas.

McGregor hasn’t competed since breaking his decrease leg in July 2021 at UFC 264 in a trilogy bout in opposition to Dustin Poirier. He has lengthy been linked to a struggle in opposition to Michael Chandler, however the struggle continued to get pushed again additional to the purpose Chandler determined to maneuver on.

Not too long ago, McGregor has appeared at BKFC occasions, the bareknuckle boxing promotion of which he’s now a part-owner. In interviews, the Irishman claims he’s wanting to return to motion, however he and the UFC can not appear to get on the identical web page.

McGregor has discovered a brand new potential opponent in Dan Hooker, who lately agreed to struggle whereas at a BKFC occasion.

Muhammad thinks it’s all part of McGregor’s plan to remain on folks’s minds.

“He is aware of what he’s doing,” Muhammad stated. “He is aware of he’s going to get folks to discuss him and say, ‘Oh, perhaps McGregor will come again in 2027. Possibly McGregor will come again in 2028.

“I believe he must hit rehab first. As soon as he will get clear and clear, then he can get again within the health club and get again to figuring out.”