Belal Muhammad suggesting Kamaru Usman vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov bout results in ‘easier’ title defense, says UFC legend

New UFC 170-pound champion Belal Muhammad believes that his first challenger should have to earn his shot. Now that he has racked up a title victory at UFC 304, Muhammad has the playing field. To that end, he wants Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman to face each other for the top spot. On this, the champion might be right on the money to edge an easier fight for himself in the future.

So says UFC veteran and analyst Chael Sonnen in a recent breakdown. The running consensus is that the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov is quite a tough challenge. Former P4P king Kamaru Usman, while potent, is on a 0-3 losing streak. ‘Bad Guy’ Sonnen postulates that Muhammad isn’t ducking one for the other. He’d be spot on in tiring the fighters against each other to elevate his chances later on.

Belal is doing exactly what he should be doing…Which is trying to get an easier fight than a harder fight. So you put these two in there…you put these two kunckleheads - Kamaru Usman and Rakhmonov…they are not coming out the same. And whoever wins by the way, doesn't come out better. This isn't like soccer where more games you get, more time on the field, more times kick it at the goalie the better you get.

Chael Sonnen via his Official YouTube channel (@ChaelSonnenOfficial)

Kamaru Usman was a prime example of this when he pitched in on short notice last year. Despite a commendable performance against middleweight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, it only added to his loss streak. Another former UFC pound-for-pound, Alexander Volkanovski, has had his share of this too. Opponents still ask him to opt for a bigger camp and rest.

As he plots his title reign, Belal Muhammad will thus look for the stylistically good fight yet the easier fight from a tactile standpoint. That would be the worn-out victor of the Usman vs. Rakhmonov bout if it came to be. The Palestinian-American welterweight maintains that Usman is the overall harder fight if he goes that way.

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Belal Muhammad says Kamaru Usman is a tougher fight than Shavkat Rakhmonov

‘Remember the Name’ has hinted at not returning in October. So, the realistic options would be UFC 309 on November 16 from Madison Square Garden or UFC 310 on December 7 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Closing in on either Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) or Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) for the maiden defense of his undisputed gold, Belal Muhammad is welcoming both challenges.

‘Nomad’ has already dug in on Muhammad for turning down a matchup in October, sparking a response. The two have been engaging in some traded social media jabs. However, the 36-year-old champion considers former five-time defending champion Kamaru Usman a harder fight to veer to.

Honestly, I would say Kamaru just because he’s fought the highest level for so long, ...And stylistically he has one of the best IQs in the game...He still has tread on his tires...People will sit there and say, like, you said, people must have forgot, right? ...he fought that fight with Khamzat on eight days’ notice, and it was a game of inches in that fight, right? If it was two more rounds in there, I would’ve been very interested to see how it would have went.

Belal Muhammad to Denis Shkuratov for the ‘Submission Radio’ Show for SBNation Netwrok (?: @SubmissionRadio on YT)

Usman has lost three in a row. However, Muhammad says his star power and short-notice loss to Chimaev at middleweight should be given the benefit of the doubt. Chimaev looked tired at the end of the third round, whereas Usman looked sharp. That is enough stock in his books to consider a fight.

In case you missed it:

• Belal Muhammad ready to take up Conor McGregor’s burden of closing out year with banger UFC PPV
• Palestinian Belal Muhammad reunites with mother for first time since becoming UFC champion

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