Watching two modern-day gladiators put it all on the line inside the UFC Octagon is undeniably one of the most exhilarating experiences for combat sports fans. But have you ever wondered why Belal Muhammad faces criticism for his fighting style? Riding high on a 10-fight win streak, Muhammad has firmly established himself as a top welterweight contender and is set to challenge Leon Edwards for the 170 lbs. title at UFC 304 on July 27.

Here’s something interesting: Edwards revealed in an interview with the NY Post that he had proposed to fight Muhammad at the historic UFC 300 event. “I said his name to the UFC — I actually said to the UFC: ‘What about Belal?’ They said he’s not a big enough name to headline UFC 300,” Edwards shared. This comment sheds light on the perception surrounding Muhammad and his fighting style, which seems to have hindered his rise to major stardom in the promotion. So, let’s find out why Belal Muhammad is considered a ‘boring’ fighter by the MMA sphere and where this perception originated from! 

Is Belal Muhammad good?

Once he had become the Titan Fighting Championship welterweight king, Belal Muhammad signed with Dana White’s promotion in 2016. His debut fight against Alan Jouban at UFC Fight Night 90, however, didn’t go as planned, marking his first professional loss, but it wasn’t all bad as it earned ‘Fight of the Night’ honors.

Muhammad bounced back with a finish against Augusto Montano later in the same year, but his third UFC fight saw him get knocked out in the first round by Vicente Luque at UFC 205 in 2016. This loss marked a turning point in Muhammad’s approach. Over his next four fights, he adopted a more strategic style, winning via decision. However, in 2019, he lost to Geoff Neal via decision, then returned to his winning ways with a string of decision victories and just one submission win over Takashi Sato at UFC 242 in 2019.

Fast forward to 2022 and Muhammad finally secured a finish, stopping Sean Brady via TKO at UFC 280. But a quick glance at his record on Tapology shows a clear trend: a 79% decision rate in the UFC, with only a 7% submission rate and a 14% KO/TKO rate. Despite 14 wins and notable victories over fighters like Stephen Thompson, Demian Maia, and Gilbert Burns, the overwhelming number of decision wins hasn’t helped his perception among MMA fans. While his record proves he’s an elite fighter, the lack of finishes seems to be a sticking point for many in the MMA sphere.

In fact, in an exchange on X earlier this year, former UFC star Darren Till had responded to Muhammad’s call out of Leon Edwards for a title bout by stating, “If you was fighting in my back garden I’d close the curtains.”  Being tied with Georges St-Pierre and Kamaru Usman for the most unanimous decision victories in the welterweight division’s history is an undeniably remarkable achievement. But Muhammad’s wrestling-heavy style and lack of finishes or iconic brawls inside the cage have made it difficult for the fans or other fighters to rally behind him.  

As he prepares to challenge Leon Edwards for the title at UFC 304, the question of whether he can deliver a performance that captivates and silences his detractors looms large, and Muhammad already has a plan in mind for fight night!

Muhammad wants to “torture” Leon Edwards

Belal Muhammad and Leon Edwards have a history together that the welterweight contender hasn’t forgotten yet! In 2021, their fight at UFC Vegas 21 ended as a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke which left Muhammad unable to continue the fight. Now, with a shot at revenge and the UFC welterweight title, Muhammad wants to leave no doubts in anyone’s mind about his place at the top of the division.

At the recent UFC 304 media day, Muhammad revealed his intentions for ‘Rocky’ as he stated, “I (want to) go out there and dominate him and beat him in all aspects of MMA – wrestling, grappling, striking, jiu-jitsu, get him to the point of making him want to quit. I want to torture him. I want him to the point of looking at his coaches and his coaches have nothing to say and they walk away because they’re embarrassed.”

For Muhammad, the fight at UFC 304  is not just about a championship—it’s about settling a personal vendetta and redefining the narrative that has haunted him in his UFC career so far! In conclusion, Belal Muhammad’s career exemplifies the complexities of success in the UFC. While his technical prowess and strategic acumen have earned him a spot among the elite welterweights, his fighting style has polarized fans and critics alike. What are your thoughts on Belal Muhammad’s fighting style? Do you think he deserves the ‘boring’ tag that he has been labeled with? Let us know in the comments below!