Belal Muhammad lost his welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 and, after reflecting on the defeat, expressed gratitude and determination to return, while considering potential future opponents in a competitive welterweight division.
Belal Muhammad is already setting his sights on the future after a tough loss in his first championship defense. “Remember the Name” came up short in the UFC 315 main event, losing his welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena. The fight was intense, lasting five rounds, with all judges scoring in favor of Maddalena. Two judges handed in close 48-47 cards.
Later that Saturday, Muhammad shared his thoughts on social media. “Allah’s plan is the best plan,” he wrote. “Alhamdillah for everything. Thank you to all my supporters. I’ve been here before and I’ll be back.”
It’s been over six years since Muhammad last faced defeat, a unanimous decision loss to Geoff Neal. He went on an impressive 11-fight unbeaten streak, including a 2021 no-contest against Leon Edwards. That fight ended due to an accidental eye poke. But Muhammad later avenged that with a dominant win at UFC 304, claiming the welterweight title.
Now, it’s back to the drawing board. An immediate rematch seems unlikely. Especially with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev eyeing the 170-pound belt and a lineup of contenders ready to step up.
Potential opponents for Muhammad include the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. They were supposed to clash at UFC 310, but Muhammad withdrew due to a foot infection. Ian Machado Garry or Sean Brady, whom Muhammad has defeated before, are also in the mix. Plus, the outcomes of the upcoming Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales fight and the Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley bout could play a role in shaping Muhammad’s path forward.