UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is keeping a keen eye on the UFC Kansas City main event.
The UFC welterweight division’s title picture is stacked. Between Ian Machado Garry, Carlos Prates, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Sean Brady, there are plenty of budding challengers ready for a crack at the welterweight belt.
Belal Muhammad will defend it next weekend against Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC 315 main event. Weeks before, Garry and Prates will square off in a pivotal welterweight matchup this Saturday at UFC Kansas City.
While Muhammad makes his final preparations for UFC 315, he’s keeping a close eye on what transpires at UFC Kansas City.
- READ MORE: Islam Makhachev tabbed as an ‘absolute disaster’ for the top UFC welterweights by star contender
Belal Muhammad makes his pick for Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates
Muhammad will make his first UFC welterweight title defense after winning the belt over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 last July. A win over Maddalena could potentially put Muhammad up against his teammate, Islam Makhachev, who is contemplating a move up to welterweight for his next fight.
Garry and Prates both believe they’re deserving of a title shot with a victory this weekend in Kansas City. But Brady, Rakhmonov, and other welterweights are also in the mix, making the debate surrounding the welterweight hierarchy a lively one.
Muhammad believes Prates and/or Garry could be potential future opponents, but he believes one side holds the advantage in the Octagon.
In a recent tweet, Muhammad predicted the UFC Kansas City headliner.
“I think Ian Garry gets it done this weekend,” Muhammad posted.
Garry was furious when Maddalena got the title shot over him and other contenders for UFC 315. This, despite Garry’s loss to Rakhmonov at UFC 310, compared to Maddalena’s unbeaten ascent up the welterweight ladder.
But Garry could make a statement this weekend with an emphatic victory over Prates. With Rakhmonov on the sidelines with an injury, and Brady’s return timeline uncertain, Garry could potentially skip the line after UFC Kansas City.
- READ MORE: Joe Rogan declares featherweight star a ‘future world champion’ after wild finish at UFC 314
Bad blood brews between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates ahead of fight night
In the meantime, tensions between Garry and Prates have ramped up in recent days ahead of UFC Kansas City. The two welterweights have traded jabs in recent days, with Garry calling Prates a quitter and calling himself ‘more of a Brazilian’ than his opponent.
Prates’s mother implored him to make it a quick night at the office this weekend, expecting a quick finish from her son. Prates also mocked Garry after finishing a mutual opponent that the Irish star couldn’t.
Garry and Prates are both looking to make statements this weekend at UFC Kansas City. A win will not only move them one step closer to a title shot but also earn the attention of Muhammad.