UFC champ Belal Muhammad vows to make welterweight great again: 'I'll be their Alex Pereira and step up'
Belal Muhammad wants to be an active champion.
Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) upset Leon Edwards to claim the welterweight title with a dominant performance at UFC 304 in July, and hopes to compete again before the end of the year.
Muhammad was critical of Edwards’ lack of activity as champion, and is ready to step in for the UFC when needed – just like light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has done time and time again this year.
“I’d rather fight than not fight,” Muhammad told MMA Junkie Radio. “So hopefully if I can get into the last card of the year in December, that’ll be great for me. I think that makes a lot of sense. You just never know if they don’t want to put nobody on (Conor) McGregor’s card, but I doubt McGregor is even fighting.
“So if they need somebody for that, I’ll be their Alex Pereira and step up. I’m training in the gym. My boy ‘Nacho’ (Bahamondes) is fighting at Sphere in September, so I’ll be in camp helping him. I’m still motivated. I’m ready to go. I’m not going to be a Leon Edwards where I take a year off. I want to make this division great again, so let’s just stay active.”
Muhammad’s goals don’t stop there. An underdog in most of his recent fights, the 36-year-old wants to leave behind an undeniable legacy.
“I think I’m the most complete martial artist in the UFC where you see me go in fights and I’ve had to wrestle, then I’ve gone into fights where I’ve only had to strike, then I’ve gone into fights where I’ve had to defend takedowns,” Muhammad said. “I always adjust my style to whoever I’m fighting, and I could fight these guys where they’re worst at.
“I could take these guys where they’re uncomfortable. I’m comfortable everywhere, and I’m good everywhere. So when you’re thinking about what’s a complete martial artist – this guy could fight any way he wants to fight, and he adjusts his style to whoever he’s fighting – I want to be one of those guys you’re thinking of, because there are guys that are like specialists, and I’m special everywhere.”