Belal Muhammad believes Islam Makhachev’s team is angling for the easiest available opponent in the champion’s next matchup.
Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) claimed the UFC welterweight title last month by dominating Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 322. After vacating the lightweight championship he held for nearly three years to move up to 170 pounds, Makhachev has now turned his attention to the growing list of contenders vying for a shot at his newly won belt.
Rising stars such as Michael Morales, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Ian Machado Garry have all positioned themselves prominently in the welterweight title conversation following impressive winning streaks. However, Makhachev has been vocal about his desire to face former champion Kamaru Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) next.
Given that Makhachev and Usman are both managed by Ali Abdelaziz, Muhammad believes a degree of gamesmanship may be at play.
“When I look at, especially the welterweight division, Islam being the champion, who do I think deserves it?” Muhammad asked in a video posted to his YouTube account. “Who do I think has earned it? I think Michael Morales for sure has earned it, but we see the seeds planted. We see Islam planting the seeds of Usman should be the next guy.
“I mean, obviously they have the same manager. Obviously the manager planting seeds in his head of what he thinks should be (next). Do I think Usman is an easier matchup? Of course, the guys fought one time in three years and he's 1-3. I'm still ahead of you, even though I lost my last two fights. I'm still 2-2 (in my last 4 fights). So you can talk, you can say whatever you want.”
Muhammad and Usman reportedly had a falling out on the set of Usman’s podcast Pound4Pound when “Remember the Name” appeared in the studio as a guest earlier this year. Muhammad maintains that Usman turned down the opportunity to face him inside the Octagon and the pair have continued to take shots at each other over the past 12 months.
“You turn down the fight, you didn't want to fight, and I don't think you should earn you a title fight when you're saying no to fights,” Muhammad continued. “But that's my thing. You call me a hater? I'm just looking at the division from a different lens.”
