UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is set on becoming a double champion after the recent defeat of headliner Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312. Muhammad watched the fight in Sydney and was not impressed, citing it as one of the reasons he’s considering moving up to the 185-pound division.
Muhammad previously trained with current lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev, but believes a fight between them wouldn’t be possible due to their close relationship. Instead, Muhammad thinks Makhachev should aim for the top 170-pound contenders, allowing him to focus on his own title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Muhammad has already proven himself as a formidable opponent in the lower weight class, having beaten five of the top 10 fighters and is now two wins away from challenging for the 185-pound title. He believes training with bigger opponents has prepared him for the transition and thinks 185 would be an easy weight class to conquer. With Khamzat Chimaev likely battling Du Plessis for the title later this year, Muhammad’s focus will remain on defending his strap before considering a move up.
Source: https://www.mmamania.com/2025/2/18/24367932/middleweight-easy-future-ufc-double-champ-like-belal-muhammad-strickland-du-plessis-suck-mma