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After claiming the Welterweight title by defeating Leon Edwards, Belal Muhammad has set his sights on defending his championship regularly and taking on all challengers, possibly even moving up to 185-pounds to challenge Dricus Du Plessis.
One potential contender for Muhammad’s title is Shavkat Rakhmonov, an undefeated fighter from Kazakhstan with an impressive record of finishing all his opponents. Rakhmonov has notable victories over fighters like Geoff Neal and Stephen Thompson. While there are other options like Ian Garry and Jack Della Maddalena, Muhammad appears more interested in bantering online with Kamaru Usman. Despite Usman’s previous success in the division, his recent three-fight losing streak raises doubts about his top contender status until he returns to winning ways.
Rakhmonov, also known as “Nomad,” is actively campaigning for a title shot, but a recent social media post reveals his frustration with Muhammad’s seeming reluctance to defend his title this year.
The Welterweight title picture is currently uncertain, with the UFC potentially planning upcoming pay-per-view events. Whether Muhammad will face Usman or Rakhmonov in January remains to be seen.
In other news, a throwback photo of Polish fighters Jan Blachowicz and Joanna Jedrzejczyk is circulating on social media, and the recent roster cut of Pannie Kianzad has surprised many in the MMA community. Additionally, the full undercard for UFC Vegas 98 has been announced, sparking speculation on who Israel Adesanya should fight in his return bout.
As we anticipate more martial arts excitement, unwind with some classic rock music from 1973 and have a peaceful night, Maniacs!
