UFC 263: Demian Maia vs Belal Muhammad: Prediction and Analysis

UFC 263 will see a welterweight match-up between Demian Maia and Belal Muhammad go down in the main card. Muhammad fought Leon Edwards in his last fight, which ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke. Maia, on the other hand, was knocked out by Gilbert Burns in his last fight in March 2020.

Muhammad is currently on a 4-fight winning streak. Since his decision loss to Geoff Neal in 2019, ‘Remember the Name’ has put together a 4-fight winning streak in the welterweight division of the UFC. He will look to enter the elites of the division with a win over a veteran like Maia.

Maia has won 3 out of his last 5 fights. A submission win over Ben Askren was his last win inside the Octagon. The Brazilian currently holds a professional record of 28-10. A total of 17 submission wins are made up of 3 T/KO and 14 submission wins. The jiu-jitsu master will be determined to get a win. A defeat will potentially bring an end to the 43-year-old’s UFC career.

Muhammad currently has a record of 18-3. Known for his impeccable pace and durability, ‘Remember the Name’ has a total of 5 finishes under his belt. 4 T/KO and 1 submission rack up those numbers for him.

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Demian Maia vs Belal Muhammad: Analysis

Maia is in the twilight of his career. He has lost the authority that he once possessed in his grappling game. So, it’s tough to expect him to be dominant as he once was especially against someone like Muhammad.

‘Remember the Name’ has been fighting in the UFC for a considerable amount of time now. Muhammad has had enough experience under his belt and should be able to use that to full advantage against the veteran Maia.

However, Maia might be able to take Muhammad’s back in the first round of the fight. But he should eventually slow down and Muhammad might exploit that to start gaining control of the fight. ‘Remember the Name’ should get a unanimous decision in his favor after winning the last 2 rounds.

Final Prediction: Belal ‘Remember the Name’ Muhammad by unanimous decision.

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