Belal Muhammad Brings Up Slapping Incident with Kamaru Usman Ahead of First Fight in 2026

UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad revisits the story of him slapping Kamaru Usman ahead of UFC Vegas 118.

Belal Muhammad Brings Up Slapping Incident with Kamaru Usman Ahead of First Fight in 2026

Belal Muhammad brings up Kamaru Usman story (via MMA Mania, Instagram)

Belal Muhammad has spent nearly a decade competing against contenders across the UFC welterweight division. However, a fight against Kamaru Usman has always remained out of reach despite years of exchanges between them. As Muhammad prepares for UFC Vegas 118, he has once again revived his controversial story about allegedly slapping Usman during a podcast appearance.

Muhammad endured a disappointing 2025 campaign after losing the UFC welterweight title to a short-notice opponent, Jack Della Maddalena, at UFC 315. The setback ended his short-lived reign and halted his momentum at the top. He later attempted to rebound against Ian Garry at UFC Qatar in November 2025. However, ‘Bully B’ suffered another setback, dropping the contest by unanimous decision.

Muhammad is set to return against Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Vegas 118 as he looks to end his recent losing streak. Bonfim presents a difficult challenge and enters the fight following a knockout win over Randy Brown. During media duties ahead of the event, Muhammad answered several fan questions. One YouTube comment referenced his remarks about Kamaru Usman during a podcast appearance.

I made him cry. It’s one of those where his ego got broken. Then he got slapped, and his cheek got broken. So, it was just a bad night for Usman. I’ll let you get your lick back; just release the podcast.

Belal Muhammad via UFC

Muhammad previously claimed that an altercation took place during a podcast appearance with Usman, later alleging that he slapped the former champion and made him cry. He has referred to the incident several times when discussing their rivalry. Usman’s co-host, Henry Cejudo, later confirmed that an altercation occurred. However, he did not reveal details about what happened between the two fighters.

The rivalry initially intensified after Usman’s knockout loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278, with Muhammad emerging as one of the division’s leading contenders. After winning the title at UFC 304, Muhammad continued trolling the Nigerian star across social media platforms. The pair repeatedly traded insults and verbal jabs, keeping their long-running feud in the spotlight despite never meeting inside the Octagon.

Kamaru Usman enters the conversation with momentum after defeating Joaquin Buckley in June 2025. The former champion hoped the victory would earn another title opportunity. However, Islam Makhachev appears focused on younger contenders despite early interest in ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’. If Belal Muhammad wins at UFC Vegas 118, a matchup between the rivals could again become a possibility.

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Gabriel Bonfim reveals how Belal Muhammad is a perfect opponent ahead of their UFC Vegas 118 clash

Gabriel Bonfim has emerged as one of the UFC welterweight division’s rising contenders. The Brazilian remained undefeated in the promotion until suffering a technical knockout loss to Nicolas Dalby at UFC São Paulo in 2023. The defeat marked the first setback of his UFC run. However, Bonfim has bounced back strongly and now enters his next fight on a four-fight winning streak.

Gabriel Bonfim and Belal Muhammad
Gabriel Bonfim and Belal Muhammad (via MMA Mania)

Bonfim impressed in his last fight, a UFC Vegas main event against Randy Brown in November 2025. ‘Marretinha‘ secured a second-round knockout with a clinch knee after a dominant performance. Now, he faces the biggest test of his career against former champion Belal Muhammad. Ahead of the matchup, Bonfim addressed the challenge of facing a proven and battle-tested veteran.

A former champion coming off two losses – that is the right time to face him. I think it is the biggest challenge I have ever faced; he is a former champion. Definitely, that is the biggest challenge.

Gabriel Bonfim via MMA Junkie

Bonfim currently holds the No. 11 spot in the UFC welterweight rankings. A win over a former champion such as Belal Muhammad would greatly boost his standing in the division. However, several dangerous contenders are also waiting at the top of the ladder at 170 pounds. Carlos Prates and Michael Morales remain among the notable names pushing toward the top.

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