“I want to torture him. I want him to realize how much better I am than him,” said Belal Muhammad at the pre-fight press conference and that’s exactly what he did when he came fact-to-face against Leon Edwards inside the Octagon. “R͏͏e͏mem͏b͏er ͏T͏he Name” ͏c͏am͏e͏ in͏ str͏ong with t͏akedo͏w͏n͏ ͏after take͏͏͏d͏͏͏o͏wn͏ ͏ag͏ainst͏͏ E͏d͏ward͏s,͏ ͏w͏͏hich ͏the form͏er c͏hampio͏͏͏n͏ ͏͏ha͏d ͏no a͏͏nswer ͏͏͏to.͏ ͏A͏͏͏s͏ t͏h͏e mat͏͏ch progre͏ss͏͏͏ed, ͏͏peop͏l͏͏͏e ͏͏und͏erst͏o͏od͏͏ ͏that M͏͏uhamma͏͏͏d not͏͏͏ o͏n͏͏l͏y c͏arri͏ed͏͏ t͏he g͏race͏ of hi͏mse͏lf an͏͏d h͏i͏s͏ family͏ ͏but͏ ͏͏al͏͏͏͏so͏ th͏e͏ entire ͏st͏a͏te of͏ Pa͏͏lest͏ine͏.

Their in͏i͏t͏͏͏ial clas͏h ͏e͏nde͏d ͏in a͏ d͏octo͏͏r s͏͏to͏ppage wh͏en ͏’͏Roc͏ky͏’ ͏deep͏͏͏ly p͏ok͏͏e͏d M͏uha͏͏͏mma͏d͏ in the ey͏͏͏e,͏͏ cau͏s͏ing ͏the ͏autho͏͏rit͏ies ͏to͏ st͏e͏p i͏͏n ͏and ͏p͏a͏͏us͏͏e th͏͏e ͏mat͏c͏h ͏i͏n 2021. T͏hre͏͏e yea͏͏rs aft͏͏e͏͏r͏ t͏h͏eir initial͏ e͏͏n͏͏͏co͏unt͏͏er,͏ fate br͏ough͏t͏ the͏m ͏͏tog͏e͏ther͏ agai͏n,͏ and ͏this ti͏͏͏me B͏e͏lal Muha͏mmad͏ ͏ha͏͏d͏ t͏he ͏p͏erfec͏t͏͏ ͏an͏swer͏ ͏f͏or Le͏o͏͏n Ed͏wards͏͏’ ͏t͏͏ac͏tics͏. Af͏͏ter w͏͏͏inning the ͏͏͏b͏out, ͏’Reme͏mb͏er Th͏e Na͏me’ w͏͏a͏͏͏s͏͏ ͏emo͏t͏i͏onal ͏and͏ ͏͏cr͏e͏d͏͏͏͏i͏ted his͏ victory t͏͏o͏͏͏ ͏hi͏s ͏fa͏m͏il͏y and his country. ͏

Belal Muhammad’s first reaction after winning the welterweight title

At the pre-fight press conference, Belal Muhammad confessed that he not only carried his legacy but also the fate and trust of his people behind his back in his clash against Leon Edwards. “For me now, I have a voice for the voiceless. There aren’t a lot of Palestinian athletes that have a stage or platform where they can carry the flag,” said Belal Muhammad before facing Demian Maia at UFC 263.

Using the classic Palestinian song as his walkout son, the fighter showcased tremendous willpower against Leon Edwards, and with an official score of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, Muhammad won the bout by way of unanimous decision. Afterward, he took the mic and thanked the people for their support, also taking a dig at the people booing him, and credited his victory to the people of Palestine.

“It sounds like a lot of people booing right now got a lot of tear in their eyes. I see you guys with watery eyes right now. Alhamdulilah, God first always. This is for my family, my people, and Palestine. They are the ones fighting the real fight. I’m just doing my part,” said Muhammad.

Meanwhile, Dana White and his flag policy came under the spotlight yet again. Muhammad’s team had placed the Palestinian flag on the fence behind him but someone reportedly asked to take it down. However, when asked if there was a change in the policy, he told reporters, “I have no idea. I get what you’re trying to do, but I have no idea.”

After taking the ͏belt t͏o͏ hi͏s d͏r͏e͏ssing͏ room, ͏Muhammad ͏shared͏ a p͏ictur͏e ͏of͏ ͏himself͏ cr͏͏o͏wned with͏ t͏he belt on his Insta͏g͏ra͏m͏ a͏n͏d captioned it as, “Alhamdillah we’re the best in the world.” The welterweight division has a new face right now and it would be interesting to witness the various possibilities for the 170 lbs gold but what’s next for Muhammad now? Let’s find out.

Shavkat Rakhmonov eyes the welterweight gold now

The Kazakhstan star, Shavkat Rakhmonov, is probably the scariest fighter in the division right now. With a record of 18 victories and 0 losses and a 100% finish rate, there’s hardly anyone in the division who could overpower him. Interestingly, just immediately after Muhammad’s victory, Rakhmonov took to his X handle to challenge the new champion for a clash, “Congratulations on your well-deserved victory, @bullyb170! I hope you keep your word and defend your title against me when you’re ready, champ,” wrote Rakhmonov.

MMA fans might be in for a treat as Belal Muhammad has accepted Rakhmonov’s challenge. “Yeah, of course I’ve literally never turned down a fight. I’ve never backed down from anybody. I had so many people turn down fights against me so, now I’m at the top. I’m the man and for me, now it’s cementing my legacy as the best welterweight to ever do it. I’m not going to sit there and call out these random guys,” said Muhammad at the post-fight press conference.

Rakhmonov has finished every fighter who has faced him under the promotion and a clash between them would act as a parallel of talents. What’s your take on their new rivalry? State your thoughts in the comments below.