Belal Muhammad is already setting his sights forward after suffering a disappointing defeat in his initial championship defense.
Competing in the main event of UFC 315, “Remember the Name” was defeated by decision, surrendering his welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena after a demanding five-round bout. All three judges scored the fight in favor of Della Maddalena, with two judges submitting close 48-47 scores.
Later on Saturday, Muhammad used social media platforms to provide a brief comment regarding the loss and his future plans.
“Allah’s plan is the best plan,” Muhammad wrote. “Alhamdillah for everything. Thank you to all my supporters. I been here before and I’ll be back.”
This marks the first time Muhammad has experienced defeat in over six years, his last loss being a unanimous decision against Geoff Neal. He had amassed a remarkable streak of 11 consecutive fights without a loss, which included a no-contest in 2021 against Leon Edwards due to an accidental eye poke. Muhammad later secured redemption against Edwards at UFC 304, winning a decisive decision to claim the welterweight championship.
Unfortunately for Muhammad, the recent loss means he must now regroup, having failed to achieve a successful title defense. It appears improbable that Muhammad will receive an immediate rematch, especially with fellow fighter and training partner, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, potentially eyeing the 170-pound division, and a strong group of contenders already in contention.
Potential opponents for Muhammad could include the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov (who was previously scheduled to challenge Muhammad at UFC 310 before Muhammad withdrew due to injury), Ian Machado Garry, or Sean Brady (whom Muhammad has previously defeated). The outcomes of upcoming fights, such as Gilbert Burns versus Michael Morales at UFC Vegas 106 or the Kamaru Usman versus Joaquin Buckley main event at UFC Atlanta, could also significantly influence Muhammad`s path forward.
