Belal Muhammad shockingly pulled out of his upcoming clash with unbeaten contender Shavkat Rakhmonov after revealing his gruesome toe injury on social media.
The 36-year-old comes off a unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards, causing a sizable upset to clinch the UFC welterweight title with a comprehensive display earlier this year.
Belal Muhammad was then scheduled to make the first defense of his trinket at UFC 310 on December 7, only to withdraw from the mouthwatering contest after revealing a graphic image of his devastating injury.
Instead, the American has been forced to rest and recuperate, while UFC boss Dana White is yet to announce a main-event replacement for his card in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Belal Muhammad suffers embarrassment after withdrawing from Shavkat Rakhmonov showdown
After having his title shot ripped away in the blink of an eye, Shavkat Rakhmonov will now be compelled to wait even longer for his golden opportunity.
The 30-year-old comes off a scintillating performance to submit Stephen Thompson, which followed a similar theme – again, with a rear naked choke – to his finish over Geoff Neal.
But now, with Muhammad nursing a bone infection in his foot, Rakhmonov’s potential shot at championship glory hangs in the balance.
As it happens, Muhammad’s toe injury is strikingly reminiscent of the one that Conor McGregor sustained in the lead up to his canceled bout against Michael Chandler at UFC 303.
Since then, ‘The Notorious’ has extended his three-year hiatus away from the octagon, but nonetheless insists that he will make a spectacular comeback in 2025.
Regardless, Muhammad was forced to wipe some egg off his face when one of his old tweets – slating McGregor’s withdrawal – resurfaced on social media.
Back in June, the welterweight king took to X and said: “My toe was a balloon,” poking fun at the Irishman’s reason for pulling out of his showdown with Chandler.
Belal Muhammad gets the last laugh in heated exchange with Conor McGregor
While undergoing medical treatment in hospital, Muhammad will spend the next six weeks taking some much needed time away from the gym.
Regarding UFC 310, though, a light heavyweight clash between two-division champion Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev is rumored to be the new headliner.
But still, away from the unconfirmed replacement, Muhammad has now delivered a spiteful response to McGregor’s original tweet, which included laughing emojis in reaction to his injury.
On X, Muhammad said: “I have this for antibiotics.. you use needles because you are junkie .. we are not the same.”