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Time of India

Kamaru Usman stuns audience with a brutal take on former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad ahead of the former's UFC Atlanta showdown

Belal Muhammad (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) and Kamaru Usman (Photo by Per Haljestam-Imagn Images) Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is in need of a blatant win after his last three debacles against welterweight contender Leon Edwards and middleweight fighter Khamzat Chimaev. While the fighter is returning to the division after a failed attempt against a middleweight fighter, Usman, in a recent press meet ahead of his UFC Atlanta bout against Joaquin Buckley, shockingly turned down a fight against one of the top contenders of the division and former champion , Belal Muhammad . Kamaru Usman denies possibility of facing Belal Muhammad anytime soon, explains speculated beef with the fighter Belal Muhammad, the former welterweight champion, recently lost his belt to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, which resulted in Islam Makhachev's move up to the division, with the intention of eyeing a second championship belt. Belal, who faced defeat for the first time in the last six years, seems to be getting back to work, with his recent training clips going viral. Even though there has been no official confirmation about his next opponent, sources within the promotion have confirmed Shavkat Rakhmonov to be his next potential opponent. Amid all the speculation, Kamaru Usman, who is preparing for a comeback against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta on June 14, 2025, turned heads with his unapologetic comment on Belal at a recent press meet. Usman and Belal aren't exactly friends owing to their on-set brawl while filming an episode of Pound-4-Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo. The bitterness was reflected in the recent statement made by Usman. 'When Belal Muhammad was champion, there was a reason to fight him. He had a title.' The fighter stated, 'Let's be honest here. We are not the best of friends. But I don't wish him any bad.' Usman reflected on the relationship shared between the two fighters, while analysing the kind of profit he would make from a bout between the two, 'But what do you have to offer me? You are gonna give me a side deal? You gonna throw me a little extra cash on the side? If you are willing to do that, maybe. But who knows?' Usman, however, negated the existence of any bad blood between the two fighters, citing the example of Colby Covington, with whom the Nigerian Nightmare shared a full-on rivalry both inside and outside the Octagon. Belal becoming the champion and his voice being a little louder than usual was more on the lines of being annoying for Usman, and not a reason for an actual rivalry between the two. The Nigerian fighter, towards the end of his statement, however, agreed that a scenario where both fighters are eyeing the belt is an ideal situation for the fighters to face each other. Also read: 'Chill for few weeks' - Sean O'Malley reveals his plans for Octagon return after a second defeat in his year-long rivalry against Merab Dvalishvili Kamaru Usman is now preparing for his upcoming fight against Joaquin Buckley to reestablish himself within the division. There has been no response from Belal on this comment yet.