Belal Muhammad reveals how he 'almost had foot AMPUTATED' six months ago, as he lifts lid on gruesome injury ahead of UFC 315 title showdown

Daily Mail​

08-05-2025

Belal Muhammad has spoken in detail for the first time about what could have been a career-ending, even life-threatening injury last year.
The UFC welterweight champion, who faces Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in Montreal on Saturday night, suffered a bone infection so severe that he could have had his foot amputated.
UFC legend Chael Sonnen had previously claimed Muhammad almost died, saying: 'Are you aware that it was on the fence whether he was going to live or die, all through an infection that came through his toe? You're probably not.
'When Belal was released, he dropped down to see how many push-ups he could do — five, that's what he got to.
'Anyone that got that sick, anyone who got that weak, if they've got to turn it around and be the baddest man on Earth, and they've got months to do it — I think that you would understand where there is some question.
'What a stud Belal is. He's not going to tell you anything. He is not going to tell you that he almost died, he's not going to tell you about the toe, he's not going to tell you about lying in the bed, crying. But I'm choosing to do it because he deserves credit.'
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But Muhammad has in fact now spoken about the ordeal, saying: 'Since it got infected and the toe was broken, the infection went straight into the bone and got in there quicker. So it spread a lot faster.
'If it was just on the skin, then it would've been easier to deal with it and the antibiotics would've worked and it wouldn't have spread as fast but he said since the toe was broken, it went into the toe and it went into the bone right away.
'Then, it was starting to spread so he had to get in there right away.'
'He (the doctor) was like, "If you'd waited a couple more days, it would have grown up the foot. Since you're healthy, luckily most the people that have bone infections are diabetics and a lot of the time I'm cutting it right away. I'm either cutting a toe, cutting a foot – it's coming off. But, luckily for you, we'll give you four weeks, hopefully the antibiotics will kick in, it'll work and we'll see it but I see you being healthy and your body fighting it."
'Thank God it was,' Muhammad reflected.
For the American-Palestinian fighter to have recovered to the extent he steps back into the octagon this weekend is a remarkable achievement in itself.
Having beaten Leon Edwards to claim the belt last year, Muhammad is now looking to launch his reign as champion.
He has not suffered defeat since 2019 and Maddalena will know exactly what he's up against. Muhammad's aggressive wrestling approach will be aiming to shut down the Australian's fluid striking in much the same we he did against Edwards.
The main event takes place in Montreal, Canada this Saturday at around 5am UK time and Mail Sport's live blog will provide updates from the pre-lims onwards at 1am.