Morning Report: Belal Muhammad thought-about retirement with loss at UFC 304: ‘It was so onerous to get there’

Belal Muhammad has lots left within the tank as his UFC welterweight title reign begins.

Incomes UFC title pictures isn’t what it was once like within the days when an eight-fight successful streak was basically a assured title shot. It was a typical response when asking UFC CEO Dana White, anyway. Even with title worth like within the instances of Max Holloway or Tony Ferguson, they wanted extra earlier than undisputed championship fights.

Muhammad, 36, was a novel case the place his prolonged successful streak was separated by a no-contest towards Leon Edwards in March 2021. Regardless, he nonetheless went unbeaten in 10 fights earlier than he captured gold in his Edwards rematch by unanimous choice at UFC 304 final month. Had “Bear in mind the Title” come up brief, nevertheless, that might have been his final MMA combat.

“It was to the purpose in my head the place I used to be it like, if I misplaced, there’s an opportunity that I’m similar to, bro, I’m hanging ‘em up as a result of I’m not gonna get one other shot at it,” Muhammad mentioned on The Fighter & The Child.

“It was so onerous to get there. I’m begging you guys to make a video for me to hype me up and get a shot there. I hate asking individuals for something however I’m similar to, bro, I want — I’m so determined to do no matter it takes to get this shot that I’ll strive something.”

Muhammad’s efficiency towards Edwards was majorly one-sided as he utilized his robust mix of strain placing and grappling to disrupt “Rocky.” What ought to have been the very best strain scenario for him was truly Muhammad’s most relaxed just by being below the brilliant lights within the early Manchester, England hours.

“I simply felt so calm combat week and I simply felt chill as a result of the toughest factor for me to do was to get the combat,” Muhammad mentioned. “That was the demanding half is — the Gilbert Burns combat, I’m so like, ‘Man, why would I take this combat on three weeks’ discover to combat this man?’ I risked all of it on three weeks’ discover.

“Now, after I obtained the combat with Leon, it was like an enormous sense of aid. We’re right here now. There’s nothing else to worry. I obtained what I’ve been working for and now we’re free so we are able to simply let unfastened within the cage. I used to be simply so completely satisfied to be backstage. I used to be completely satisfied to stroll out. Even within the cage, I used to be eager to smile as a result of they mentioned we wouldn’t get it. We obtained it and we’re right here now. The liberty simply made me combat one of the best I’ve ever fought.”

Though the primary combat has an asterisk on it, there hasn’t been any indication {that a} Muhammad vs. Edwards trilogy after the title rematch. White and Muhammad each just like the sound of an Edwards vs. Ian Machado Garry matchup.

What in regards to the champion’s first title protection?

Two names have been on the forefront of dialog within the welterweight division and bantered back-and-forth with the outgoing Chicago native. First, there’s the undefeated 18-0 super-contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who has been coined a future champion since arriving within the octagon. Possibility two is extra of a wildcard within the type of former champion Kamaru Usman. Meritocratically, this shouldn’t even be a query as Usman has misplaced his final three fights relationship again to his closing title protection towards Colby Covington in November 2021.

In the end, Muhammad compares the present line of contenders to the place he was earlier than he claimed gold and doesn’t see a transparent standout. He simply needs to return for his first protection in December.

“If I’m it proper now, Shavkat and Usman, they’re each from the identical health club,” Muhammad mentioned. “Usman has the legacy, proper? He was the man Dana White mentioned is healthier than ‘GSP’ [Georges St-Pierre] so I’m such as you’re each from the identical health club, flip a coin, and let’s see which certainly one of you guys need to come out and combat me.

“No one actually deserves a title shot, proper? So, I’m keen to combat any certainly one of them. When Leon gained the title, I used to be the clear subsequent in line. Shavkat is [18-0] nevertheless it’s nonetheless such as you didn’t should undergo the ladder that I needed to undergo. So, it’s not like, ‘Man, he one hundred pc deserves it instantly.’ I feel name-wise, Usman has the largest title within the division. Shavkat in all probability has the largest aura about him.”

Delay. Dana White proclaims Conor McGregor is not going to combat in 2024; McGregor responds

Nope. Dana White vehemently shuts down any probability of Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira

Contracts. DWCS Outcomes: Season 8, Week 1

Grudge. Daniel Cormier expects a extremely motivated Israel Adesanya at UFC 305: ‘He don’t need to lose to Dricus’ du Plessis

Noche. Dana White reveals first particulars of UFC 306 manufacturing plans for Sphere occasion

Battle. Sean O’Malley goals to steal headlines from Canelo Alvarez with ‘viral knockout’ at UFC 306

Endurance. Sean Strickland’s head coach ‘wholeheartedly’ agrees with ready for UFC middleweight title shot

Help. Zhilei Zhang believes Alex Pereira can win UFC heavyweight title: ‘He has the facility’

Replace. Joilton Lutterbach will get 2-year ban for failed drug check, UFC contract terminated

Dana White Publish-Contender Sequence Scrum.

Embedded 2.

Lookin’ For A Combat.

Basic Stroll-Off KOs.

Stylebender combat camp.

RIZIN Confessions 158.

PFL Combat Week.

C3 on 305.

The Warfare Room: du Plessis vs. Adesanya.

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or discover certainly one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re at present actually into. I’ll decide one of the best one alongside my each day alternative and offer you a shoutout! You can even share within the feedback under — these are simply more durable to sift by way of typically!

This month’s full playlist:

Ending sequence.

Plus crossover.

Birthday champ.

Reminiscences.

Recommendation…

Welcome to the UFC.

Regular.

Goodnight.

Beatdown.

We love smashing elbows round right here.

Champ life.

Just a bit swim.

Kevin.

Gear.

Autographs.

I didn’t know Kevin Lee turned a comic since his final combat.

Thanks for studying!

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