Belal Muhammad’s quest for respect: Why he’s tired of being overlooked.

MMA has always been a sport where respect is earned in the process of training and the price one has to pay in the cage. But as we have seen with the likes of Belal Muhammad, even when a fighter is winning the majority of his or her bouts, it doesn’t mean that they will be getting the attention they deserve. Despite the great record, the grit, and the unquestionable work ethic, Muhammad has been rather neglected in the public and promotional discourse about the top fighters of the UFC. Belal Muhammad has always been very open about the problems he encounters and his irritation with the fact that nobody pays attention to him. This article looks at the reasons why Muhammad has not been given his due recognition, how he has fared in the welterweight category and why he feels that the recognition he has been denied for so long is long overdue.

 The Underdog Journey: Rising Through the Ranks Without Attention

 Belal Muhammad was born on July 9, 1988, in Chicago, Illinois, to Palestinian parents and thus work ethic was not foreign to him. He started his career in the MMA in 2012 and with time, he has fought and won many fights and has been ranked in the UFC welterweight division.

 It is important to note that one of the biggest issues that fighters such as Muhammad faces is the ability to get past the wall of public focus. UFC fighters have always been able to gain attention through either their finishing skills or through self promotion. Some of the popular fighters include Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and Nate Diaz that gained fame not only by their fighting skills but also by their attitude and ability to market themselves. Belal Muhammad, on the other hand, is known to be a ‘grinder’ – a hard-working, humble, and polite fighter and this has not always been a good thing in a combat sport that is ruled by larger-than-life characters.

 Perhaps, his rather unassuming personality away from the MMA cage has also played a role in this, but the fighting style he adopts has also been an issue. Although Muhammad has been able to create a winning spree, he has always been described as a ‘grinder’ in the ring, a fighter who focuses on wearing down opponents with work rate, pressure and volume rather than flashy knockouts. This is a good strategy though – Muhammad’s cardio and his ability to break down his opponents are arguably the best in the division, but it is not the most glamorous and flashy style that would attract the attention of casual viewers and big promotions. This, coupled with the fact that there are no famous “quotes” from outside the cage, has meant that he has been rather underrated despite the impressive record.

 Belal Muhammad’s UFC Career: It’s as simple as this: The numbers don’t lie.

 Belal Muhammad’s UFC journey has been quite remarkable to say the least. Some of the best and the most dangerous welterweight fighters have been defeated by him in the ring. At the time of this writing, which is September of 2023, Muhammad is 23-3-0 (with one no-contest) in his professional MMA career. He made his UFC debut in 2016 and with each fight, he has been getting better and better having defeated the likes of Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, Demian Maia and many more.

 Still, Muhammad has been battling the problem of being outshone by other fighters in the division who may be more commercially viable or more colorful personalities. Some fighters with rather less stable records or even those who have recently been defeated have been given chances which according to Muhammad should have been given to him. For instance, in early 2021, Muhammad had won four fights in a row but was only given a high stakes fight against Leon Edwards, a top contender at the time. However, the fight was stopped in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke on the eye of Muhammad which left him without the much needed victory that would have placed him closer to title shot.

 In a sport that is all about timing, the above moments have not helped him in any way but to postpone his chance at the title. However, the numbers don’t lie, Muhammad has one of the most active winning streaks in the UFC welterweight division and everyone should know by now that he is a force to reckon with when it comes to fighting top tier opponents in the division.

 The Leon Edwards Dilemma: When Respect Is Delayed

 A turning point that can be noted in the career of Belal Muhammad was during the fight against Leon Edwards in March 2021. Edwards was a dangerous striker who was on a great winning streak and was being set up to challenge for the title and this fight was supposed to be one of the stepping stones towards that goal. But the bout was not without controversy as Edwards accidentally poked the eye of his opponent in the second round which resulted to a no-contest. This was not just a night of disappointment to Muhammad, it was a night of lost chance to show that he is an equal to the best of his competitors.

 After the fight nobody really spoke about a second fight, though Muhammad was quite keen on the idea himself. The UFC then decided to proceed with Edwards and soon Edwards was given his own route towards the title. Edwards would later on reclaim the UFC welterweight title from Kamaru Usman but Muhammad was left hanging, having to fight his way to the top without the assurance of getting a shot at the title.

 For Muhammad this was just a small example of the bigger picture of his everyday struggles. Although Edwards was able to shrug off the no-contest and continue with his career, Muhammad was again left without a job. Nevertheless, it was as if UFC and its matchmakers had no intention of pushing him as a potential champion in the near future.

 The use of Media in perception

 It is therefore important to understand the role that the media plays in the life of a fighter especially in terms of shaping his or her career. The UFC’s marketing machine is one of the most effective in the sports industry and fighters who capture the media’s attention through spectacular knockout victories, larger than life personalities or interesting feuds are often ushered to the top of the division. This paper will seek to explore the kind of relationship that Belal Muhammad has had with the media, and it will be seen that it has been a mixed bag.

 On one hand, Muhammad has employed the social media platforms in a bid to market himself and gain an audience while at the same time airing his grievances over being ignored. He has gotten a little bit more vocal in recent years, especially because he realised that if he does not speak out, he will not be considered for a promotion. Some of the fans have appreciated the humor that Muhammad has along with his business-like approach towards the sport and he has not been in the limelight for the wrong reasons like other fighters in the same position.

There is a possible reason for this and that is the UFC’s promotional strategy. It is the fighters who are polarizing, or even polarizing, or brash that get more media attention. Some of the fighters have learned to use their mouths, such as Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal and Sean Strickland, they know how to sell themselves even if it means being controversial. Muhammad has not been very vocal; rather he has remained a man of action who lets his fists do the talking. This is a good approach but at times may not be in line with the UFC’s focus on entertainment.

 Also, the UFC has learnt to market specific fighters and this has relegated Muhammad to the background even though he is still winning. It should have been enough to make him a star, to have defeated so many other top ranked fighters, but he has been lost in the shuffle due to the UFC’s penchant for promoting more glamorous or exciting fighters and storylines. This results in a situation where fighters such as Muhammad have to keep on proving their worth in the ring and still be ignored.

 Struggling for Respect in a Strong Division

 Belal Muhammad is a fighter who seeks respect in the UFC and one of the things that make it difficult for him is the depth of the welterweight division. Welterweight division is one of the most talented in the entire combat sport where a lot of dangerous contenders can be found and each of them has his own style. Some of the current champions include Kamaru Usman and Tyron Woodley while new talents such as Khamzat Chimaev and Shavkat Rakhmonov are emerging in the division.

 This is so because even the fighters with good winning records may find it hard to penetrate the market. The depth of talent in the organization means that the UFC has more wiggle room when it comes to choosing who to push and those fighters who for whatever reason capture the imagination of fans or the mainstream media can often jump over those ranked higher than them. In the case of Muhammad, he lacks finishes and a more tactical approach to the sport which has made him blend with other fighters in this division.

 Still, Muhammad has constantly challenged his opponents to give him the best fights in the division. His win over Stephen Thompson in 2021 was a significant achievement since Thompson was one of the greatest strikers in the welterweight category. Muhammad was able to counter Thompson’s striking and get a unanimous decision win which showed that he is on par with the best in the division.

 Nevertheless, even after such wins, Muhammad has not been able to build up the steam necessary to get a title shot. Some of this may be because of timing as other fighters with more exciting performances have earned the attention of the UFC management. But one cannot ignore the fact that Muhammad is very consistent, very tough and will fight anyone in the division.

 The Road Ahead: What Belal Muhammad Needs to Do to Secure His Legacy

 Belal Muhammad’s search for recognition is not over yet and that is a good thing. He has been steadily rising through the ranks and getting more victories under his belt and yet he still insists that he should be given a title shot and the glory that comes with it. There are many ways he can get to this point but there are a few things that if done right, can help him secure his place in history and gain the recognition that he seeks.

 1. He Must Continue to Adel His Fighting Style.

 Among the controversies that have been raised concerning Muhammad is the fact that his fighting techniques may be efficient but not very people friendly. To go from the preliminary card to headlining an event and getting the attention of the UFC’s promotional machinery, Muhammad may have to improve on his finishing skills. Whether it is through an increase in the power of his strikes, developing in the area of submissions or simply taking more risks in the octagon then he can become more unique in the division that is full of explosive athletes.

 2. Increase Your Communication and Confidence

 In the recent past, Muhammad has come out in the public to express his feeling of being neglected. This has been the case with fighters such as Tony Ferguson who at one point put pressure on the UFC by calling out his opponents and asking for the big fights. If Muhammad keeps on insisting for the fights that he thinks he deserves as well as become more aggressive in the negotiations, then there is a high chance that he will be featured more often.

 3. Secure a Signature Win

 Nonetheless, Muhammad has fought and defeated several big name opponents but he has not got that one big name victory that can take him to the next level. A win over a legend, or a prospect like Khamzat Chimaev can very well be the fight that puts Muhammad in the spotlight as one of the best fighters in the division. Such a victory would make it very hard for the UFC to ignore his accomplishments and deny him the shots he has been after.

 4. Play the Media Game

 Although Muhammad has not changed his character and remains a humble and hardworking man, the truth of the modern MMA is that the media also have a great impact on the fighter. Muhammad could have spent more time in the media, he could have used the social network sites to his advantage and he could have built rivalry with other fighters in the gym. Striking the right chord between the two may well be the way to go in order to raise his profile.

 Conclusion: A Fighter That Deserves Our Admiration

 Belal Muhammad’s search for respect is a perfect example of the challenges that many fighters go through while in the UFC but do not get to capture the imagination of the promotion’s management. In spite of his victory over high-ranked opponents and hard working spirit, Muhammad has not received the same attention as other fighters who are likely to create sensational headlines. Nevertheless, his dedication, eagerness to develop and his desire to compete with the best fighters in the world make him a fighter to be admired.

 In a sport that is defined by viral knockouts or inflammatory statements, Muhammad’s silent toughness is a testimony that success cannot only be measured by fanfare and attention but by how much one can endure and still persist. As Belal Muhammad continues his journey, one thing is clear: whether or not he gets the recognition that he should, it is hard to deny that he is one of the most competitive and hardworking fighters in the welterweight division.