How welterweight champ Belal Muhammad can get the sport to remember his name

Last July, Moments After Belal “Remember The Name” Muhammad Won the UFC Welterweight Championship, Espn Commentator Daniel Cormier Didn is remember his name.

“Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the welterweight champion, Leon Edwards! “Cormier process at the end of the postfight interview with Muhammad (24-3, 1 NC), who had just sounded via unanimous decision to take the belt at UFC 304, Engeld.

It was an honor mistake by Cormier, one He IMMEDIETY CORRED. He’d be saying the words “Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards” all weeks, because during the builtup to the figure, edwards had in fact bee the champion. But at the Same Time, it was fitting that this mix-up is happy to muhammad, a nine-year-old ufc veteran who has been vastly overlooked by fans and opponents alike.

“I don’t need the world to believe in me,” muhammad saad letter that night when talking about the doubles he faced from others. “I don’t need anyone to believe in me. I don’t need applause. Me and my step knove what we capable of, and now we are world champions.” Muhammad, who is the first Palestinian American Champion in Ufc History, Looks to Make His FIRST TITLE defense on Saturday Australian Challenger Maddalena jack (17-2) AT UFC 315 (10 PM et on ESPN+ PPV) in montreal, a city that has hosted so many big moments for the great – and most popular – welterweight of all time, Georges St-Pierre. Muhammad has shown tremendous response for st-pierre, telling the UFC recently it will be “surreal” for him to figure in GSP’s arena.

“That’s the guy that’s considered the goat of your weight class,” Muhammad hass of st-pierre. “Someone you always look up to, you watch, you try to mimic.”

But he has made no secret of his desire to be considered the best welterweight of all time Himself.

“Goat is the goal,” muhammad sa. “I ‘chasing gsp.

Hey’s application tied for Fifth-Most Wins in UFC welterweight history with 15, as it toped a long time to see the belt. His lack of finishes (Six in 24 Career Wins) has hurt his mainstream appear. That 25% finishing rate has led to a lot of fan criticism, but in recent interviews muhammad has predicted a stoppage on Saturday. As his first title defense application, Espn Spoke to Several of the Greatest and most prominent welterweights of the past two decades for their take on Muhammad’s Skills, his ceiling as a champion and his Potential Marketability.

Georges St-Pierre, Former Welterweight and Middleweight Champion, Nine Title Defenses

“Building a legacy does not overnight. It is usably happens at the end of your career [as a champion]And he’s at the beginning, so he got a lot of time. Anything is possible for him. What’s Held Him Back in the Mainstream is [that] Stardom is about charisma. He’s not the most flashy; He does not have as much attention on heim as someone loud. But he’s a good fight, and as time goes by, he will get the attainment he deserves.

“He Breaks Opponents Mentally. What People Don’t Understand is [that] When you are a guy mentally, when he accepts defeat, he does not figure to win anymore, he fights to not lose. And it’s very hard to [finish] Someone when he fights not to lose, because he does not open up. Most of the time, to finish an opponent, you have to surprise him. When you react a certain level, if the guy is mentally BEEFORE you can surprise him, it is very hard to finish him. You need to crack the eggs, in a way, to finish. That’s what happened to belal, and it happened to me over my career, too. [His opponent] knows [he] Is out of the figure and he does and he wants to get hurt, so hey going to try to open up to create an opposition for Himsel. “

Cameroon usmanFormer Welterweight Champion, Five Title defenses

“Belal was just a guy who was always around. Everywhere, and that’s bee working.

“Once I was forced to pay attainment to him, I started to see the antics that go on outside the cage, and I was never that guy. On Social Media because he craves. DISTASTEFUL.

“I think he’s capable of a long reign, thought a stronghold on a division, you must be good even every championship change when you see the championship change and over, then are usually Champions who lack some sort of skill. Matt hughesHe could be wrestle and grapple, but he could also stand with you. And then you see the new young guy, Georges st-pierre. He could find a way to outwestle you, out-jab you, outkick, out-grapple you. And then myself. I could dominate on the group, but I can put power on you, too. Belal is in a place where he can do everywhere pretty good. We have made his mind his punching power, but now that he is champion, give him time to work on be on began confidence, and we would see it. “

Tyron woodleyFormer Welterweight Champion, Four Title defenses

“I love belal. [a month in the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset]And he would take a sip of water. He never had any attitude. He never felt any entitlement. He never had any evy or jealousy.

“I dont see him making it this far back then, but when he made some changed and started traveling with [former lightweight champion] Khabib NurmagomedovI saw a shift. Someone who believes in Himself is dangerous. A lot of guys figures out of their opponent. It’s special when you start to believe. Like when I was champion, Josh koscheck Was a better wrestler than me; Robbie Lawler Was a better brawler than me; Carlos Condit Was a better striker than me. I got to a point where I felt i could be they at their own game. And that’s where belal is right now.

“When it comes to getting responses, at the end of the day, we not athletes, wee entertainers. And that’s so hard. Lose, you have to make your social media. He is going to have to find his propertation, because I got tired to prove every time.

And HardyFormer welterweight title challenger

“Unfortunately, I think his social media will hold him back.

“The way for him to overcome this is to start finishing people. He needs to start making it nasty. Gravite Toward. Belal can make that shift.

“There are moments in a figure where all the ingredients come together at the right time, and I think he is he -heeled his potential. ” Thinking about, ‘How do you people out of there?’ And you can cut them, stop them. Out. “