Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman’s feud with Belal Muhammad took a surprising turn.
Tensions are ramping up between former UFC titleholder Kamaru Usman and current UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. As Muhammad prepares to face Jack Della Maddalena in his first title defense at UFC 315, his trash talk is almost crossing the line, according to Usman.
Muhammad and Maddalena headline an intriguing card at UFC 315 in Montreal. After an unbeaten run in the UFC, Maddalena got the quick climb to a title shot after finishing Gilbert Burns in his last fight at UFC 299.
Muhammad and Maddalena expressed mutual respect in the immediate aftermath of the UFC 315 fight’s announcement, but that’s quickly changed in recent weeks.
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Kamaru Usman compares Belal Muhammad with Colby Covington
After Maddalena was briefly linked to a pre-fight fundraiser aimed at helping cover travel expenses ahead of UFC 315, Muhammad seized on the opportunity to troll him on social media. Maddalena responded by mocking Muhammad’s ‘boring’ fight style.
Usman, who went through several feuds during his UFC welterweight title reign, believes Muhammad is inching closer to mirroring one of his former rivals with his mental warfare tactics.
During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman upped his dislike for Muhammad by comparing his antics to two-time rival Colby Covington.
“I don’t think that’s very Muslim-esque,” Usman said. “We don’t care about that. It is what it is. This is a guy who really is, for as much as you say you don’t like Covington for what Covington did to get to the top of the division and how he talks to people, you’re not far from it right now.
“And I think a lot of fans see that, and a lot of fans understand that as well, but it is what it is. At least these two guys are going to be able to step in there and actually settle it, so I’m excited for that.” (h/t MMA Junkie)
In the lead-up to both of Usman’s title fights against Covington, the latter repeatedly took personal shots at Usman, bringing his father into pre-fight trash talk. Covington invoked similar tactics before his matchup with Leon Edwards at UFC 296.
Muhammad earned the belt by defeating Edwards at UFC 304 last July. This isn’t the first time Usman and Muhammad have traded barbs, and they allegedly had a full-on altercation during an unreleased podcast episode.
Belal Muhammad made a bold prediction ahead of UFC 315 title fight
Muhammad aims to make a statement in his first UFC welterweight title defense, promising to show off ‘Canelo hands’ and stay away from a wrestling-first approach. But Muhammad, who possesses an elite grappling base, could potentially go back on that promise inside the Octagon.
Usman hasn’t appeared in the Octagon since a middleweight loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. He’s teased a welterweight return later this year, as he looks to potentially make another title run before hanging up the gloves.
Usman and Muhammad could potentially be on a collision course later this year if Usman separates himself as a top contender. In the meantime, beef continues to brew between the two stars.
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