UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad discloses how his high school teacher helped him get his start in MMA
UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad revealed how his high school teacher unintentionally inspired him to become a fighter, diverting his path from law school.
Muhammad bested Leon Edwards at UFC 304 and became the first fighter of Palestinian origin to win a UFC belt. Recently, the champion was invited to his home town's (Chicago) news channel, WGN News, to talk about his MMA journey. There, 'Remember the Name' revisited the time when his childhood coach spurred him to take up combat sports. He said:
"I was in high school, I wrestled two years there and then I went to University of Illinois, and I was going for law, I wasn’t planning to do any sports and then I randomly came him in a newspaper, my old high school coach, and he was fighting. He was fighting on showtime and I sent him a message, I was like “You’re a fighter? And he’s like “yeah, I’m a fighter now. I do mixed martial arts and my gym is near my mom’s house so whenever I come home on the weekend, I’ll go link up with him, train, and it was like snowball effect from there. I just fell in love with the sport."
The 36-year-old added:
"Started training more and after getting my first amateur fight, once you win it, when you get your hands raised, it’s like an addiction, its like “ahh I wanna feel it again, I wanna feel it more.” And I told my parents, I was like, “Until I lose, let me just keep doing it.” They’re like “finish law school, go there, be a lawyer. It’s way safer.” And I was like “We’ll do it after I lose.” And I got to the UFC we’re real champion."
Belal Muhammad fires back at Shavkat Rakhmonov after inactivity allegations
Belal Muhammad may have won the title, but his potential title reign is steeped with dangerous contenders. Recently, Shavkat Rakhmonov has taken to social media, insisting he's the top contender and should be next in line for the belt.
'Nomad' alleges the champion plans to avoid fighting this year to prolong his reign. The undefeated Kazakh native tweeted out, saying:
"After all the talk about being an active champion, truth is Belal isn’t even ready to defend his title this year."
'Remember the Name' fired back by asserting that Rakhmonov shouldn't accuse anyone of inactivity when he hasn't fought since last year.
"Inactive? Lol I’m still on trial and Shavkat hasn’t fought since 2023 I think Shavkat and usman should fight to find the real number one contender."