![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Gaza-in-Palestine.jpg?width=600)
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Gaza-in-Palestine.jpg?width=600)
The things that are happening to the people in Gaza have caught the attention of the whole world, even UFC stars. Out of all the fighters who’ve expressed their opinion on that matter, welterweight star Belal Muhammad has been at the forefront of it all. Although he was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, the 36-year-old has ties with the State of Palestine.
Belal Muhammad has often been a vocal representative of the people of Palestine, offering his support to the people of the nation while the forces of Israel And Hamas clashed in Gaza. But did you know that ‘Remember the Name’ went over and beyond his support for Palestine with a kind gesture? Let’s have a look at that front.
Belal Muhammad brought over a child and her father from Palestine
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You’ve heard exactly right! If there was any doubt as to how big of an advocate and representative Belal Muhammad is for the people of Palestine, we’d like to tell you that ahead of his world title fight against Leon Edwards at UFC 304, the welterweight star had revealed to have spent time with a father and his son in the United States. He brought them over to the States after the son’s mother sadly passed away in Palestine due to bombings in the city of Gaza.
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Is Belal Muhammad's activism overshadowing his UFC career, or enhancing it?
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Belal Muhammad brought a child and his father over to America after the child lost his mother and father lost his wife in the Gaza bombings 🇵🇸❤️
🎥 #UFC304 Countdown / @ufc pic.twitter.com/4ct3HwzqDZ
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) July 20, 2024
Talking about his ties with a charitable organization, Belal Muhammad stated, “My family is from Palestine. We work for a charity called the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. They do a lot of work in Palestine… Now, with what’s happening over there, we were able to bring a father and a son to America,” during the recent UFC 304 Countdown video.
The child is just a mere couple of years old, and he and his father have been living in the United States for half a year. “We’re blessed to be able to bring him here and take care of him and show him a life that every little kid should be having,” Belal Muhammad added. Meanwhile, the welterweight title challenger has another wish he wants to fulfill besides helping the people of Palestine – representing them at the epitome of MMA.
What’s your perspective on:
Is Belal Muhammad's activism overshadowing his UFC career, or enhancing it?
Have an interesting take?
Belal Muhammad wants to become the first Palestinian UFC champion
When the UFC 304 main event got announced, nobody was as excited as Belal Muhammad, understandably because he had been calling for that title shot for over a year. However, winning the title shot isn’t everything for the Chicago native because he wants to make a statement in Manchester by becoming the first UFC champion from Palestine. If we look at the records, it hasn’t been done yet and that’s exactly what Muhammad aims to achieve on July 27th at the Co-op Live arena.
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1746383809.jpg?width=150&blur=15)
via Getty
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 20: Belal Muhammad is seen during a Q&A session prior to the UFC 294 ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena on October 20, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“They need a victory. They need to have this flag raised with the UFC title. They need to have this flag raised with their colors associated with it,” Belal Muhammad told ‘MMA Junkie’. “Nobody is going to be able to doubt that they’re going to have a Palestinian champion, 100 percent, 1,000 percent. If that one day, that one moment makes them forget about what they’re going through for 10, 15 minutes, that’s the least I could do.” But do you know that ‘Remember the Name’ has found the support of another fighter in his cause to help the people of Palestine? Let’s have a look at that front.
Khamzat Chimaev joins Belal Muhammad in support of Palestine
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Before his advent into the middleweight division, Belal Muhammad and Khamzat Chimaev were relatively rivals. ‘Borz’ even had problems with Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s team with whom the welterweight title challenger trains. Nevertheless, things seemed to get cordial between Muhammad and Chimaev because days before UFC 294, both fighters caught up with each other and decided to share a picture on social media of them posing with the Palestinian flag. This seemingly sent the fans into a frenzy, who had nothing else than just positive things to say about the duo.
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) October 20, 2023
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It is also important to note that this isn’t the first time Khamzat Chimaev has shown support for the troubled Islamic state of Palestine. He seemed to have had enough of the atrocities going on in that region, prompting him to call out the “strongest man from Israel” with the aim to “break him.” Hence, it’s safe to assume that this act of solidarity with Belal Muhammad wasn’t a surprise move.
UFC 304 is the biggest fight of Belal Muhammad’s career, and it will be a great sight to see him win the belt for the Palestinian people. However, Leon Edwards is on the top of his game and hence, until we see these two scramble inside the Octagon, it would be hard to determine how the fight will pan out. What are your thoughts? Join the conversation by sharing your views in the comments section below.
Debate
Is Belal Muhammad's activism overshadowing his UFC career, or enhancing it?