Manager explains how UFC 315 wasn't all bad for Belal Muhammad, stock went up
Manager explains how UFC 315 wasn't all bad for Belal Muhammad, stock went up
Despite Belal Muhammad losing his title, his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, believes the former champion's stock went up.
Muhammad (24-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) was dethroned by Jack Della Maddalena by Jack Della Maddalena in last Saturday's UFC 315 main event in Montreal. Their bloody back-and-forth battle won Fight of the Night.
After the fight, White shared photos of Muhammad, who suffered a broken nose, orbital, and split his lip. Abdelaziz hopes fans stop criticizing Muhammad for his fighting style after UFC 315.
"This fight, Dana would not stop praising Belal," Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. "He didn't do media. He was texting me, sending me photos. He said, 'One of the best welterweight fights I've ever seen.' I think Belal may have lost, but he gained so many fans, so much respect. Nobody can ever say Belal is a boring fighter. He's not, and he showed it.
"It was a great fight, and I believe if Belal a little bit changed strategy, it would have been different. Sometimes you show up, you prepare, but it's not your night. And guess what? It was a very close fight. It was 3-2, it's not like he got murdered for five rounds. Maybe he had a little bit more damage, but Jack's face was damaged, too. All credit and congratulations to Jack. Belal will be back."
With Muhammad losing his title, Islam Makhachev decided to vacate his lightweight title for a move up to challenge Della Maddalena. If Muhammad reinserts himself in the title picture, Abdelaziz ensures his clients would not fight.
"Still, Belal and Islam will never fight," Abdelaziz said. "It doesn't really matter if Islam has to go up or down for Belal to get his shot again. We'll work it out. We stick to our guns. The UFC really wanted to make this fight if Belal won, and it was not going to happen. Brotherhood is worth a lot more than money and a lot of other things."
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