Belal Muhammad needed to scratch and claw his method simply to get a shot at changing into UFC champion, however even after profitable the title in lopsided vogue over Leon Edwards, he’s proper again in a well-known function as underdog once more.
Whereas nothing is official, Muhammad seems destined to defend his title towards Shavkat Rakhmonov in both late 2024 or early 2025. With an undefeated report and a one hundred pc ending price in his profession, Rakhmonov is already closely favored to take Muhammad’s title away from him ought to they meet.
However Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is fast to pump the brakes on Rakhmonov’s untimely coronation having fought him and Muhammad inside the previous three years.
“Belal, he’s obtained each likelihood to go on the market and do effectively towards Shavkat similar to Shavkat has an opportunity to beat him,” Thompson informed MMA Combating. “I imply he’s the champ. How are you going to sit there and say [Shavkat] goes to run by means of him when all we’ve seen from Belal is simply domination with all people? I don’t bear in mind the final shut struggle that he’s had.
“He did it to Sean Brady, he out-struck him, out-grappled him. He did it with all people. Myself, Leon, Gilbert Burns. He fought each model. He’s fought strikers. He’s fought grapplers. He’s fought very well-rounded MMA fighters. Come on, you can not sit there and inform me [Shavkat] goes to run by means of Belal.”
Reality be informed, Thompson as soon as had an identical opinion on Muhammad earlier than he watched the long run UFC champion tackle famous grappler Demian Maia simply six months earlier than they fought.
That was a wake-up name that compelled Thompson to rethink Muhammad as a complete totally different form of risk and it nonetheless didn’t forestall him from dropping a unanimous determination after they met.
“I believed the identical method at any time when he fought Demian Maia,” Thompson stated about Muhammad. “I’m like Demian Maia’s going to crush this man. Demian Maia couldn’t get this man down. A number of the finest takedown protection I’ve seen. Demian Maia, if he needs you on the bottom, you’re taking place and Belal did a tremendous job with that struggle and with all people since then.”
Thompson offers Rakhmonov loads of reward as effectively after he suffered a submission loss to the top-ranked welterweight contender this previous December. However simply because Rakhmonov seems to be unstoppable doesn’t imply he can’t be crushed.
“I do know [Belal is] the shorter fighter and Shavkat’s an excellent striker. He’s obtained good grappling however so does Belal,” Thompson stated. “When push involves shove, if they will’t get one another down, it’s going to be a standup match I feel. Form of just like the Kamaru Usman–Colby Covington [fights], I feel they’re going to cancel one another out with their grappling. They’re not going to have the ability to get one another down.
“So it’s going to need to be with who’s obtained the higher hanging? Belal’s obtained a gasoline tank. Shavkat form of likes to tempo himself all through the struggle. He’s not in your face the complete time throwing strikes like Belal is. I feel it’s going to be an excellent check for each. I feel it’s going to show right into a hanging match.”
Whereas Muhammad has plenty of weapons in his arsenal, Thompson believes his outstanding conditioning would possibly truly sit on the high of the checklist. He noticed that on show when Muhammad dismantled Edwards over 5 rounds to turn out to be champion again in July.
Thompson additionally noticed Rakhmonov decelerate significantly in a closer-than-expected battle towards Geoff Neal that just about went all three rounds.
“Geoff Neal, that wasn’t as fast-paced as Belal [fights],” Thompson stated. “Belal’s going to make it a fair tougher tempo, an much more intense tempo than Geoff Neal did to Shavkat. He’s going to be in your face, in search of the takedown, up and down, up and down, and simply making you’re employed for 5, five-minute rounds.
“If it makes it previous the third, you’ll begin to see that fatigue I feel. Simply from what I’ve seen of Shavkat, I feel he’s going to get somewhat drained, be somewhat fatigued.”
Thompson gained’t choose a winner as a result of he is aware of the struggle isn’t straightforward to foretell. Greater than something, he stresses that counting out Muhammad is completed at your individual peril.
“I feel if Shavkat wins, it’s going to be robust,” Thompson stated. “I don’t suppose he walks by means of him one bit.
“My hat’s off to Belal. I feel he’s superb. I feel the Shavkat struggle can be a tremendous struggle for him.”
