Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad made history a month ago as the first Palestinian descendant to claim a UFC title. However, his happiness might be short-lived, as undefeated Kazakh sensation Shavkat Rakhmonov has set his sights on the belt. ‘Nomad’ has been regularly targeting Muhammad for a title fight, but Muhammad seems in no hurry to defend the title, choosing instead to enjoy his recent victory.

When Rakhmonov recently challenged ‘Remember the Name’ for inactivity, Muhammad responded with a biting retort, saying, “Inactive? Lol I’m still on trial and Shavkat hasn’t fought since 2023 I think Shavkat and Usman should fight to find the real number one contender.” This response has only fueled their ongoing rivalry, with ‘Nomad’ recently countering Muhammad’s claim with a stark reminder.

Shavkat Rakhmonov lays bare the irony behind Belal Muhammad’s retort

In his eagerness to secure a title fight, ‘Nomad’ has intensified his verbal attacks on Belal Muhammad. In a recent tweet, he directly confronted Muhammad, reminding him of his year-long absence. He wrote, “Do you have a case of selective memory, or did you just forget that you didn’t fight for 14 months before challenging for the belt? 🤫”

Shavkat Rakhmonov has been absent from the Octagon since his December 2023 fight against Stephen Thompson. He has been eagerly anticipating and preparing for his title opportunity. When asked about the timing of his title fight, the 18-0 star made it clear that he’s ready to take the shot anytime, even if it gets delayed until next year.

Rakhmonov’s relentless pursuit of the title mirrors Belal Muhammad’s own determination, which once led to confront UFC CEO Dana White for awarding Colby Covington with a title shot over him. This confrontation caused ‘Remember the Name’ to take a break from the sport, take time to recover, and eventually relocate to Dagestan to train with former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. This training proved crucial in sharpening Muhammad’s wrestling skills, a key factor in his subsequent welterweight title victory.

As the feud between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Belal Muhammad continues to heat up, Muhammad seems to be adding more fuel to the fire. In a recent move, he dragged Dana White into his online war with ‘Nomad’, seeking to escalate the conflict even further.

Muhammad takes a dig at Dana White

Dana White has never been perceived as a staunch supporter of Belal Muhammad, a sentiment that has been rumored online for years. This seemed to be confirmed when Muhammad defeated White’s favored fighter, Leon Edwards, at UFC 304 in Manchester to claim the title. Fans noticed White’s apparent sadness as he wrapped the belt around Muhammad’s waist. While the UFC CEO later denied these speculations, ‘Remember the Name’ has continued to fuel the controversy.

Recently, when news broke that Muhammad would face Shavkat Rakhmonov, he mocked the promotion strategy on X. He posted a meme with the caption “Dana Be Like,” comparing White to Morpheus from the Matrix and offering two pills. In Muhammad’s version of the meme, both the blue and red pills represented Rakhmonov, leaving ‘Remember the Name’ with no choice but to face him.

‘Nomad’s’ stance seems justified, especially considering Belal Muhammad’s approach of staying away from the promotion until he secured his title shot. ‘Nomad”s current strategy mirrors this approach.

As one of the only two top 5 welterweights not coming off a loss, it’s not difficult to see why Rakhmonov wants a title shot. With Jack Della Maddalena out injured, his claim grows stronger. However, he does not have a win over any other top 5 star, despite his top 5 ranking.

What are your thoughts on the situation? Should Shavkat fight Kamaru Usman like the champion suggested? Or is Belal vs Shavkat the next fight to be made at welterweight? Share your thoughts in the comments below.