Belal Muhammad Promises to Beat Rising Contenders
Belal Muhammad’s vow to finish Shavkat Rakhmonov never got tested in the Octagon. They were booked to fight for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 310 in December 2024, but Muhammad withdrew because of a bone infection in his foot. Rakhmonov stayed on the card and beat Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision. The UFC explained the replacement bout and published the official scorecards.
The fight fell through
Before the scheduled matchup, Muhammad spoke confidently about facing the unbeaten contender and described himself as a complete fighter. Rakhmonov had finished each of his UFC opponents before UFC 310, but his five-round win over Garry went to the judges. The outcome proved his ability to win a decision; it did not answer how he would have matched up with Muhammad.
The replacement fight kept Rakhmonov in the title picture, but the division moved on. Muhammad eventually defended his belt against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May 2025 and lost by unanimous decision. He later lost decisions to Ian Machado Garry and Gabriel Bonfim. The UFC’s UFC 315 scorecards and Muhammad’s official record list the results.
A hypothetical matchup
Because the planned title bout never took place, neither fighter’s prediction about a finish can be confirmed. Rakhmonov’s win over Garry was a clear result, while Muhammad’s record includes both the title loss and later setbacks. Any comparison between the two in this matchup remains hypothetical.
Sources
Tags: MMA
