Championship Defeat Propels Grudge Match Between Belal Muhammad and Sean Strickland

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland calls out hated rival Belal Muhammad for a middleweight scrap.

Championship Defeat Propels Grudge Match Between Belal Muhammad and Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland wants to fight Belal Muhammad next (via Imago)

Belal Muhammad talked endlessly about his dominance, but he ultimately failed to defend his title when it truly mattered most. He lost a competitive five-round battle against top challenger Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, ending his championship reign abruptly. Muhammad won’t get an immediate rematch, but rivalries remain, especially a heated one brewing between him and Sean Strickland.

Following the loss, Muhammad made no excuses and instead thanked God and his unwavering faith for everything that happened gracefully. It appears Khabib Nurmagomedov’s advice about handling both victory and defeat with dignity is now being truly embraced by Muhammad. Meanwhile, Strickland has issued a call-out via Helen Yee Sports interview, urging Muhammad to step up and compete in the middleweight division.

Belal, you should finally sack up, all that sh*t you talked man. We can finally make it happen. You lost your belt, you got f***ed up, I got f***ed up. We should make that fight happen Belal…He said he would [come up]. All that sh*t he talks on Instagram… now you can you f***ing p*ssy. Do it for Palestine…I’d f***ing love that fight… There’s nobody there for me, he just fought, let the lip heal up. Why not?

Strickland has long criticized Muhammad for his consistent public support of Palestine during the ongoing war, calling it unnecessary activism. He once told Muhammad to stop spreading awareness from America’s comfort and instead go physically fight alongside Palestinians. Now, after heated trash talk and mutual animosity, Muhammad finally has an opportunity to confront Strickland inside the octagon directly.

‘Tarzan’ lost his last bout to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312, failing to reclaim the prestigious UFC middleweight title. His lackluster performance disappointed fans and critics, raising serious doubts about his standing among the division’s most elite and dangerous contenders. Strickland also had a dispute with coach Erick Nicksick afterward, and their relationship ended despite the coach’s previous guidance.

Before UFC 315, Muhammad had mentioned potentially moving up to middleweight and challenging DDP for the championship. Now, with Islam Makhachev possibly entering the welterweight scene, Muhammad might avoid facing the Dagestani despite their recent controversy. Still, all eyes are on whether Muhammad will accept Strickland’s challenge and finally make the move to middleweight.

UFC veteran shares his theory for Belal Muhammad’s alleged rift with Team Khabib 

Belal Muhammad was the primary reason Islam Makhachev hadn’t previously moved up and pursued the UFC welterweight championship opportunity. Before UFC 315, Makhachev openly stated he’d consider moving up in weight if Jack Della Maddalena defeated Muhammad. That comment sparked narratives of a brewing rift between the fighters.

Belal Muhammad struggles against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315
Belal Muhammad struggles against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 (via Bleacher Report)

Makhachev was accused of secretly celebrating and even praying for the downfall of his so-called brother Muhammad at UFC 315. Muhammad, who usually trains with Team Khabib before major bouts, intentionally chose to avoid them ahead of his recent title defense. UFC welterweight veteran Gilbert Burns addressed this growing tension during UFC Media Day, adding perspective to the complicated situation.

I want to see if Belal was going to train with Khabib. But with that thing with Islam wanting to move up… I assume that was the case (with Muhammad), ‘Okay, I’m not going (to train). This guy may fight me.’ When I saw that he didn’t go there, and he was more in Chicago, and I was looking and I said, ‘Yeah, he’s not (going) 2-3 years (in) Dagestan this time.’

Ever since winning the welterweight title, ‘Bully B’ trained less and less with Team Khabib. Instead, he trained in his hometown of Chicago. Regardless of where he would have trained, JDM came up with an excellent gameplan to defeat Muhammad. The Aussie star even showed massively improved grappling defense, which negated the all-round advantage that Muhammad possessed on paper.

Burns recently stated that Makhachev had the skills to defeat both Muhammad and Della Maddalena if needed. After UFC 315, JDM has gained a loyal fanbase who now believe he can beat the pound-for-pound king convincingly. Still, Makhachev possesses far more tools and experience, making him a strong candidate to capture his second UFC championship belt soon.

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