UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad shares secret to training multiple times a day during Ramadan without water
The No.4-ranked UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad has been training despite fasting during Ramadan - a holy month for Muslims worldwide where they fast from dawn to dusk. Fasting involves not even drinking water.
Most practicing Muslim athletes usually hunker down during the month of Ramadan and refrain from training, like Khabib Nurmagomedov. Other fighters who need to relentlessly train, like Khamzat Chimaev - only train after dusk after breaking his fast at sunset.
Despite keeping his fast, Belal Muhammad has found a way to train. 'Bully' admitted that the first week of fasting and training is usually hard, but he is eventually able to push past it:
"Usually, that first practice is either light drilling or pad work with my coach and the teammates. And then, during the rest of the day, it's like, 'Alright, rest period.' And the, I'm doing some sort of weightlifting in the middle - probably at like around 5'o'clock. So right after my weights session, [I] break my fast - still, you got to be vert smart because I'm putting a small meal in, you don't want to overdo it - because I do have another [after that]. So, it's another, lighter meal. [I'm] making sure that I'm replenishing myself with all my liquids."
I had the pleasure of asking Belal Muhammad about his incredible training routine while fasting for Ramadan. Last year he won a main event @ESPN bout while fasting all camp. He goes into great detail, we talk for 15+ minutes. Please enjoy!
Full interview: youtu.be/ADnlzPOpbBk https://t.co/rLIWpToY8l
Belal Muhammad last fought Sean Brady at UFC 280, where Khabib Nurmagomedov was in his corner. 'The Eagle' coached 'Bully' to a second-round TKO victory. Muhammad is currently 13-3 (1 NC) in his promotional career and 22-3 (1 NC) in his overall MMA career.
Colby Covington in way of Belal Muhammad's title dreams
Belal Muhammad has been gunning for a title shot since his dominant victory at UFC 280. Except for a no-contest bout against current divisional champion Leon Edwards, 'Bully' is riding an eight-fight win streak.
Belal Muhammad standing TKOs Sean Brady at UFC 280 https://t.co/JChwNHQOPI
Colby Covington was chosen as the backup fighter for Edwards vs. Usman 3 and made the 170-lbs weight limit. Furthermore, it was alleged that an agreement was made between 'Chaos' and the UFC, where a title shot was guaranteed to him if he made weight for the UFC 286 event.
Sure enough, at the UFC 286 post-fight press conference, Dana White announced that Covington is next in line for a title shot, much to the dismay of Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad. 'Bully' had some harsh words to say about 'Chaos,' and thrashed him in an interview with ESPN MMA:
"I wasn't expected to get screwed [by the UFC] with the guy who's been missing for 12 months, 13 months - and a guy that turned down fights with me, turned down fights with Khamzat, and he's getting rewarded for turning down fights."
Skip to 6:57 for Muhammad's thoughts on Covington's title shot: