At UFC 315 on May 10, Belal Muhammad stepped into the octagon to make his first UFC welterweight title defense but left without the belt.
In an impressive tactical departure, the defending champion scrapped his normal strategy of grappling and took a striking match with top contender Jack Della Maddalena. Resulting in a unanimous decision loss, halting Muhammad’s momentum within the tightly packed 170-pound division.
Coach Javier Mendez Queries Muhammad’s Strategy
Javier Mendez, who is a world-class coach for ex-UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, shared concern about Belal’s game plan. Interviewing Submission Radio, Mendez stated he was surprised Muhammad didn’t use his wrestling weapons.
I was surprised Belal didn’t utilize his wrestling more,” Mendez said. “None of us thought he had a chance standing up, and yet he tried to do the exact opposite.”
Mendez believed Muhammad’s decision might have come from a motivation to silence critics, much like what Khabib once did.
A Risky Decision: Striking with a Specialist
Before UFC 315, Belal Muhammad teased that he would stand and exchange with Della Maddalena, a strategy that ultimately failed. Rather than adhering to his strengths, grueling wrestling and cage control, Muhammad fought his opponent’s fight, which played right into the Australian’s top-tier striking skillset.
Mendez drew comparisons with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s previous career struggles, pointing out that even “The Eagle” occasionally deviated from grappling to show he could strike.
Khabib’s Parallel Struggles with Demonstrating a Point
Looking back at his stint as coach to Khabib, Mendez explained:
“Khabib would attempt to stand up just to prove people wrong. I was always trying to get him back to grappling. Although he enhanced his striking hugely, I did not want him to get away from what made him great.“
As Mendez argues, the urge to silence doubters may drive elite fighters from the very resources that created their legacy.
What’s Next for Belal Muhammad?
After his UFC 315 defeat, Belal Muhammad took to social media to accept the loss, but his future is uncertain. With Islam Makhachev having apparently announced that he would cut weight to challenge the new champion, Muhammad will have to regroup and reassess his next step.
Mendez cautions that such mistakes by the sport’s top guns can be career-enders. He feels Muhammad’s choice to desert his strength testifies to the prevalent yet pricey trend of fighters at the pinnacle winning at any price.
A Learning Moment for Belal Muhammad Post-UFC 315
The result of UFC 315 highlights the value of being true to oneself in elite competition. For Belal, the need to prove well-roundedness cost him his championship. Looking forward, adopting the wrestling-dominant style that made him successful could be the ticket to regaining his position at the top of the welterweight division.
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