Belal Muhammad gears up for UFC 304 showdown with Leon Edwards

Speaking exclusively to Arab News, the 36-year-old reflected on his preparations and the profound significance of his upcoming bout against champion Leon Edwards. (UFC)
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  • Muhammad sees the upcoming fight as a defining moment in his career trajectory
  • His Palestinian heritage serves as a profound source of motivation and pride聽鈥榯hat means everything to me鈥�

Riyadh: In the lead-up to UFC 304, slated for July 27 in Manchester, UK, Belal Muhammad, the formidable Palestinian-American welterweight contender, has honing his skills with a series  of rigorous training camps which have inluded sessions with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Mackachev in Dagestan.

Speaking exclusively to Arab News, the 36-year-old reflected on his preparations and the profound significance of his upcoming bout against champion Leon Edwards.

鈥淢y training camp has been very good,鈥� Muhammad said, detailing the final stages of his preparation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about being safe, staying uninjured, and making it to the fight week. It鈥檚 been a hard camp, but I feel the best I鈥檝e ever felt. I can鈥檛 wait to get to Manchester and fight,鈥� he added with palpable enthusiasm.

Ranked second in the welterweight division, Muhammad sees the upcoming fight as a defining moment in his career trajectory. 鈥淭his is everything,鈥� he stressed. 鈥淲hen I got into the UFC, all I wanted was to be the champion. Now, I see the finish line. I鈥檓 knocking on the door. All I鈥檝e got to do is walk through it.鈥�

Acknowledging the competitive landscape of the welterweight division, Muhammad assessed his opponents with a keen eye. 鈥淚 see weaknesses in a lot of these guys,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there are going to be easy fights, but looking at this division, Leon (Edwards) is my easiest fight,鈥� he added.

Muhammad鈥檚 journey in mixed martial arts is deeply intertwined with his Palestinian heritage, which he views as a source of profound motivation and pride. 鈥淭hat means everything to me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wake up every day knowing I鈥檓 fighting for something bigger 鈥� to have my flag raised with the title, to give my people a voice.鈥�

He highlighted the resilience and determination of his Palestinian community as a driving force in his career. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 sleep. I can鈥檛 take any days off. I can鈥檛 be soft, because these people are hard. These people are so resilient. They push me every day to work harder. I鈥檝e never seen a stronger people in my life.鈥�

Addressing his Palestinian fans directly, Muhammad expressed solidarity and admiration. 鈥淜eep fighting. Keep staying strong. Keep being resilient because you鈥檙e changing the world,鈥� he said, stressing the inspiration he draws from their unwavering support.

With the recent surge of MMA interest in the Middle East, Muhammad praised the region鈥檚 growing prominence in the sport. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to see the Middle East becoming a huge market for fighters and the UFC,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you look at Arabs and Muslims, we鈥檙e not the tallest we鈥檙e not the biggest so you鈥檙e not gonna see a lot of us in the NBA. But now we have a different sport that we can take over. We can all be fighters,鈥� he added optimistically, envisioning a future where Arab fighters continue to make significant strides in the sport.

Reflecting on his career鈥檚 evolution, Muhammad emphasized the lessons learned from both victories and setbacks. 鈥淚鈥檝e had the highest highs and the lowest lows,鈥� he said. 鈥淎fter every fight, I analyze what I did wrong. I train year-round to be a better fighter,鈥� he added, attributing his continuous growth to a relentless pursuit of improvement.

Muhammad started his MMA journey at 23, unlike many fighters who start at a much younger age, a factor that has always played on his mind as he trains, he said.

鈥淚 really think I鈥檓 behind a lot of these guys. So I鈥檝e always had that mentality that I鈥檓 behind and have to keep learning, growing, and getting better. And I think that鈥檚 what separates me from the rest. Every single fight, I come as a different fighter.鈥�

Maintaining mental focus and motivation amid the stakes of UFC 304, Muhammad revealed a deeply personal motivation. 鈥淚 love to win and I hate to lose,鈥� he admitted. 鈥淚 never want to see my mom disappointed in me. I keep winning so she keeps a smile on her face,鈥� he added, highlighting the familial support that fuels his drive.

As the countdown to UFC 304 progresses, Muhammad stands poised to seize the welterweight crown, driven by skill, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to his goals. With Manchester on the horizon, Muhammad鈥檚 journey to championship glory promises to captivate fans worldwide and inspire a new generation of fighters from the Middle East and beyond.