Conor McGregor was quick to poke fun at Belal Muhammad after his withdrawal from UFC 310.
The welterweight champion was supposed to make a first defense of the belt he took from Leon Edwards at UFC 304 against Shavkat Rakhmonov in Las Vegas on December 7.
However, rumors about the bout being called off have been circulating online, with UFC light heavyweight Alex Pereira linked to a short-notice title fight against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 310.
Now ‘Remember The Name’ has confirmed he’s out and shared several graphic images showing the injury that means he won’t be fit to headline the UFC’s final pay-per-view shot of 2024.
- READ MORE: Conor McGregor ends retirement talk with new training footage ahead of UFC comeback in 2025
Belal Muhammad out of UFC 310 with bone infection
On Thursday, Belal Muhammad shared three pictures and three videos that showed him lying in a hospital bed dealing with what seemed like a toe issue.
Muhammad’s middle toe on his left foot was extremely swollen, covered in stitches, and wrapped in bandages in the photos that included a caption explaining what had happened.
He wrote: “Caught a bone infection in my foot .. had to put a PICC line [peripherally inserted central catheter] in my arm for IV antibiotics the next 6 weeks with no physical activity.
“Allah’s plan is the best plan I’m sorry to everyone that was coming to see me I’ll be back soon inshAllah.”
Muhammad’s comment section was flooded with well wishes from UFC legend Michael Bisping, revered trainer Eric Nicksick, and MMA interviewer Nina Marie Daniele.
Even his opponent had some kind words. Rakhmonov took to X – formerly known as Twitter – with a message for the champion and their fight fell through.
“Wishing Belal a quick recovery,” the 18-0 contender tweeted. “We’ll meet when you’re back at 100%. For now, I’m ready to take on any contender for the interim title at #UFC310.
Conor McGregor had absolutely no sympathy for the 170lb UFC king. ‘Notorious’ stumbled across pictures of Muhammad’s swollen toe and responded by posting two crying laughing emojis underneath it.
Conor McGregor isn’t a Belal Muhammad fan
McGregor suffered a toe injury that forced him out of UFC 303 in June, so you’d think he’d have some compassion for a fellow MMA star going through a similar situation.
However, it’s become clear that the Irishman doesn’t like Muhammad or his fighting style.
“I’d love to crush my left hook into Belal’s temple and take down the triple crown,” McGregor tweeted in October. “I’d do it easily. And fast!
“To think this bum is now a UFC champion with zero knockdowns on his resume whatsoever is so bad. The UFC’s most abysmal zero revenue generating fighter in modern history.”
Muhammad made a grim prediction about the former dual-weight UFC champion’s career in response.
“This guy is always high or drunk,” he claimed during an interview with Submission Radio.
“And the only way that he’s going to imagine that beating me is if he’s high or drunk. There’s nothing that’ll ever happen. He won’t be coming back to 170. He won’t be coming back to fighting.
“You know, he needs to go back to rehab. And like I said, if he needs a ride there, I’ll help him out. I’ll get him an Uber there. But, yeah, somebody needs to help this guy. He’s not. He’s not going to be fighting anytime soon.”
- READ MORE: Belal Muhammad confirms UFC 310 fight is off in worrying social media post from hospital bed