Belal Muhammad

Belal Muhammad (born July 9, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2012, he has also competed for Bellator and Titan FC. As of October 24, 2023, he is #2 in the UFC welterweight rankings.

Background
Muhammad was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, to Palestinian parents. He has four siblings: an older brother, older sister and two younger brothers. He wrestled at Bogan High School and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Mixed martial arts career
Shortly after a TKO victory over Steve Carl to become the Titan Fighting Championships Welterweight Champion, and push his record to 9–0, Muhammad signed with the UFC in 2016.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
On July 7, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 90, Muhammad made his UFC debut, as a short-notice replacement, against Alan Jouban. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night honors for their performances.

Muhammad next faced Augusto Montaño on September 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 94. He won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Muhammad was expected to face Lyman Good on November 12, 2016, at UFC 205. However, on October 24, Good was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test sample collected ten days earlier. He was replaced by Vicente Luque. Muhammad lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Muhammad was a short notice replacement and stepped in to face Randy Brown on February 11, 2017, at UFC 208. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Jordan Mein on July 8, 2017, at UFC 213. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Muhammad was expected to face Jesse Taylor on November 19, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura. However, on September 13, it was announced that Taylor was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test conducted on August 22. He was replaced by Tim Means. Muhammad won the fight via split decision.

Muhammad was expected to face Niko Price on June 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 131. However, Price was removed from the bout on May 22 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by promotional newcomer Chance Rencountre. Muhammad won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad was scheduled to meet Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on September 22, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137. However, on September 14, 2018, Muhammad was pulled from the bout and he was replaced by newcomer Luigi Vendramini.

Muhammad faced Geoff Neal on January 19, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 143. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Curtis Millender on April 13, 2019, at UFC 236. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Takashi Sato on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round. This win earned Muhammad his first Performance of the Night award.

Muhammad was expected to face Lyman Good on April 18, 2020, at UFC 249. However on April 4, Good pulled out due to COVID-19 infection. The bout was rebooked and eventually took place on June 20, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad was expected to face Sean Brady on December 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 183. However in late October, Brady had a broken nose and had to pull out of their bout, and he was replaced by Dhiego Lima. Subsequently, Muhammed was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the week leading up to the event and the bout was scrapped from the card and the bout was rescheduled to February 13, 2021, at UFC 258 Muhammad won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Leon Edwards on March 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 187. During the second round, Edwards poked Muhammad in the eye rendering him unable to continue. The fight was declared a no contest.

Muhammad faced Demian Maia on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263. Muhammad won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Stephen Thompson on December 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Vicente Luque in a rematch on April 16, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 34. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Muhammad faced Sean Brady on October 22, 2022, at UFC 280. He won the bout via TKO stoppage at the end of the second round. UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was one of his cornermen for this fight. He received his second Performance of the Night bonus.

Muhammad faced Gilbert Burns on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288. Muhammad won by unanimous decision.

In a rematch, Muhammad is scheduled to face UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards for the title on July 27, 2024, in the main event at UFC 304.

Professional grappling career
Muhammad was scheduled to compete against Tarek Suleiman in the no gi co-main event of ADXC 1 on October 20, 2023. He withdrew from the match on short notice and was replaced by Marvin Vettori.

Personal life
Muhammad is a Muslim, and an outspoken supporter of Palestine. He has denounced the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip showing support for Palestinians while also condemning antisemitism.

On June 1, 2020, businesses owned by Muhammad's father and cousins in Chicago were looted and destroyed as a result of the George Floyd unrest.

He threw the ceremonial first pitch for the Chicago Cubs on July 28, 2021.

Championships and accomplishments

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Takashi Sato and Sean Brady
 * Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Alan Jouban
 * Tied (Georges St-Pierre, Kamaru Usman & Neil Magny) for most unanimous decision wins in UFC Welterweight division history (10)
 * Tied (Georges St-Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Kamaru Usman, Neil Magny, Brad Tavares & Robert Whittaker) for second most unanimous decision wins in UFC history (10)
 * Third most decision wins in UFC Welterweight division history (11)
 * Second highest takedown defense percentage in UFC Welterweight division history (93.3%)
 * Titan Fighting Championship
 * Titan FC Welterweight Championship (One time)
 * MMAjunkie.com
 * 2019 January Fight of the Month vs. Geoff Neal