Khabib Nurmagomedov had some eye-opening recommendation for Belal Muhammad following the Chicago native’s welterweight title win final yr.
After successful 9 straight contained in the Octagon, ‘Keep in mind The Title’ secured the most important win of his profession at UFC 304, scoring a unanimous resolution victory over Leon Edwards in Manchester to seize the welterweight championship.
Returning to the ‘Second Metropolis’ shortly after, Muhammad acquired a hero’s welcome, however his time to rejoice was lower quick after ‘The Eagle’ broke down what it means to not simply develop into a UFC champion however to stay a UFC champion.
“Khabib instructed me, like, the very first thing he instructed me after the combat was, ‘Now you bought to coach twice as arduous as a result of now the bullseye is in your again. Everyone’s solely taking a look at you, they usually’re looking for your weaknesses. So you need to hold working and hold evolving,’” Muhammad instructed Barstool Chicago.
“There are plenty of champions who will win the belt, after which, hastily, they’re getting much more cash. They’re getting much more, occasion invitations. So, guys will fall off.”
Might Belal Muhammad’s first UFC title protection go down in Chi-City?
Muhammad was initially set to defend his title for the primary time at UFC 310 in opposition to Shavkat Rakhmonov. Sadly, he was pressured to bow out of the bout on account of an an infection in his foot.
Since then, no particulars have been introduced concerning after we will see Muhammad again contained in the Octagon, however the UFC’s rumored return to Chicago later this yr might provide followers a detailed as to when.
“I’m trying to go in every single place on this planet,” White instructed Sports activities Enterprise Journal late final yr. “We’re going to start out going into cities that we haven’t been to [since] pre-pandemic. We’re going to start out going again. We’re going to do Chicago in ‘25. We’re going to return as much as Seattle and hit plenty of different locations that we haven’t been shortly, so we’re going to maneuver round quite a bit in ’25.”
If the promotion plans on making its approach to The Windy Metropolis within the first half of 2025, there’s an excellent probability we might see Muhammad delay his return slightly longer in order that he can defend his title in entrance of a hometown crowd.