UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has been touted as the potential path to double-champ status with a move up to middleweight, but Joaquin Buckley has come forward to express his skepticism about the plan.
Buckley, who is on a six-fight winning streak and sees middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis as a tough matchup for Muhammad, believes the power difference at 185 pounds would pose a significant challenge for the welterweight champ.
Du Plessis has successfully defended his title twice in recent months, including a win over Sean Strickland at UFC 312, and is known for his relentless pursuit of opponents. Buckley warns that Muhammad may struggle to counter Du Plessis’s constant pressure and ultimately lose by decision.
Muhammad, who is set to face undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov for his first title defense, has expressed interest in moving up to middleweight to avoid a potential fight with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. However, Buckley’s comments suggest that Muhammad may not have the tools or strategy to overcome Du Plessis’s formidable skills at the higher weight class.
Source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2025/02/joaquin-buckley-belal-muhammad-no-tools-dricus-du-plessis-ufc-champion