UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad reminisced about the legendary fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard on social media platform X. The two fighters clashed thrice in their careers, with their second bout happening at UFC 125 on January 2, 2011. Muhammad shared a screenshot of his Facebook post from 13 years ago, declaring it the “greatest sporting event” he had ever attended. He added that it was the first fight he ever attended and it got him “hooked.”
In their first encounter in April 2008, Maynard managed to edge out Edgar for a decision win. Their rematch, referred to by Muhammad, was an intense and closely fought contest with both fighters giving their all. The unforgettable 25-minute match ended in a draw, leading to a third fight between the two. This final bout saw Edgar claim victory, leaving their historic rivalry at one win apiece.
As for the future, many expect Belal Muhammad to be next in line for a shot at Leon Edwards’ 170-pound title. Although the fight is not confirmed, it appears to be the most likely matchup in the welterweight division. In anticipation of this, Muhammad appears to be heading to Dagestan to hone his MMA skills. He recently shared a picture of himself alongside UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Ali Abdelaziz, Muhammad’s manager, cryptically hinted at the move in a series of tweets. “@bullyb170” was followed by “Dagestan.” If Belal Muhammad truly is the next contender at 170 pounds, relocating to Dagestan would be a smart move. While his wrestling prowess is respected, improving his overall MMA game and training with world-class fighters like Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov could elevate Muhammad’s abilities to new heights.
