There are two prime candidates for Belal Muhammad‘s first title defense. Having shocked the UFC world by dominating then-champion Leon Edwards in their UFC 304 clash two months ago, ‘Bully B’ has knocked ‘Rocky’ out of contention for an immediate rematch by virtue of that performance. Now, former champion and Dana White‘s pick for the welterweight GOAT, Kamaru Usman, and undefeated welterweight phenom Shavkat Rakhmonov are the only game in town for a title shot against Belal Muhammad.

Moreover, the sensational fighter knows exactly whom the UFC wants to be his next opponent.

Belal Muhammad thinks Dana White wants to ‘protect’ Shavkat Rakhmonov

Speaking to Michael Bisping, Muhammad felt that Shavkat Rakhmonov would be next for him. Why? Well, because he thinks ‘Nomad’, who has stopped every opponent he has faced, will lose to Usman, and a loss would take the shine off of the undefeated Kazakh.

Of course, this would also have financial implications for the promotion since putting an undefeated and hyped up title shot would be a vastly more sellable clash than a Rakhmonov who has taken a loss. Therefore, according to the welterweight champ, it makes sense for Dana White and Co. to have Rakhmonov with his undefeated aura and fearsome reputation with Muhammad rather than have ‘Nomad’ fight Usman, who would hand him the first loss of his career.

“I think just the fans in the UFC, I see them looking at Shavkat like that next guy in line. So I’m like ‘All right, well you guys wanted to test it,’ and that’s why I think for the UFC they don’t want to put him against like a Usman for a number one contender fight,” Muhammad said.

In addition, the American felt the UFC doesn’t want Usman, who is 37 and in the latter half of his career, to regain the title, and feels Rakhmonov is the division’s future.

“Usman beats him, it’s [the UFC is] like ‘we just lost the undefeated guy, new blood and we just have Usman back in the mix again who was just the reigning champion for five years.’ So I think they want new blood in general, so I think that’s why they would probably want to give me Shavkat next,” he said. And the Kazakh, according to Muhammad, would be a much more favorable matchup for him.

‘Bully B’ sees far more holes in Rakhmonov’s game than Usman

Belal Muhammad told Bisping that while he wanted to face Usman next (since that fight would be a much bigger moneymaker) and give him an all-time great on his resume, he finds Rakhmonov an easier opponent to deal with. After all, while Usman has spent the better part of the past half a decade setting records and defending his title, Rakhmonov is far more untested.

“And I mean, I’m gladly willing to do it, right, because for me honestly, I would think that Usman’s a tougher fight because when I look at Shavkat, I see a lot of holes and I see paths to victory,” Muhammad added.

However, the one thing that Muhammad seems to forget is Dana White’s preference for Usman. Not only because of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’s heroics in the octagon, but also since Usman is a company man through and through. The most recent example of this came when the Nigerian bailed out the UFC by taking a short notice fight against Khamzat Chimaev on UFC 294 last month.

Who do you think will be Muhammad Belal’s first title defense?