Belal Muhammad refutes UFC analyst's claims that Shavkat Rakhmonov is "largely unquestioned, rightful, next title challenger"
UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad does not think Shavkat Rakhmonov is the rightful next challenger to the title. Since winning the title from Leon Edwards at UFC 304, Muhammad has shown an inclination toward defending it against former champion Kamaru Usman.
The Nigerian-American is hailed as one of the greatest fighters in the division's history and Muhammad feels that a win over him can solidify his legacy. However, Kazakhstan's Rakhmonov is undefeated in his professional MMA career and is on a hot six-fight finish streak in the UFC. Fan reactions and social media discussions suggest that many feel Muhammad is trying to avoid fighting Rakhmonov.
Anik, a notable analyst and UFC commentator, recently argued that Muhammad is not trying to dodge a difficult opponent in Rakhmonov but added that the Kazakhstan native deserves the title shot. He tweeted:
"Shavkat Rakhmonov is 18-0 w/ 18 finishes. 6-0 in the UFC. Whether he has the No. 3 or No. 1 ranking matters not. Most of us see him as the largely unquestioned, rightful, next title challenger. And I think the UFC concurs! But the champion ain't the f*cking problem. Trust."
Muhammad replied to the post, writing:
"If I’m being real, Tony Ferguson deserves the shot more than him."
For the uninitiated, Belal Muhammad's comments sarcastically dismiss Rakhmonov's resume by comparing him to Tony Ferguson. Once a dominant force in the 155-pound division, Ferguson experienced a steep downfall in the twilight of his career, losing eight fights in a row.
His most recent defeat came against Michael Chiesa in August. 'El Cucuy' semi-retired from the sport immediately after the fight, which is a far cry from Rakhmonov's current situation.
Belal Muhammad thinks Kamaru Usman is stylistically a tougher challenge than Shavkat Rakhmonov
Kamaru Usman's recent performances are a part of the reason why most people believe Shavkat Rakhmonov should fight Belal Muhammad. After a dominant welterweight title reign, Usman lost the belt to Leon Edwards and is currently on a two-fight losing streak in the division. He also suffered a majority decision loss against Khamzat Chimaev in his middleweight debut at UFC 294 in October 2023.
Additionally, sources claim that Usman's knees no longer allow him to implement his pressure-heavy wrestling game. However, Muhammad thinks that 'The Nigerian Nightmare' is still stylistically the more difficult opponent for him than Rakhmonov. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Muhammad said:
“A harder fight? Honestly, I’d say Kamaru (Usman)... Just because he has fought in the highest level so long and stylistically he has one of the best IQs in the game. So, I think for me, fighting somebody with the close to an IQ of myself will be a harder fight.”
Check out Belal Muhammad's comments below (20:12):