Belal Muhammad promises to showcase his striking skills in his upcoming UFC welterweight title defense against Jack Della Maddalena. The champ plans to ditch his usual wrestling-based approach for a more boxing-focused style this Saturday in Canada.
Muhammad, who holds a 24-3 record, wants to prove he's got more than just grappling in his arsenal. He's been working hard on his striking game with teammates Yair Rodriguez and Ignacio Bahamondes.
"I'm not going to try a single takedown, and I'm going to show the meaning of 'Canelo's hands'," Muhammad said on 'The Coach' podcast, drawing a bold comparison to boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez.
The Palestinian-American champ is coming off an impressive performance against Leon Edwards, where he showed off improved striking alongside his trademark wrestling. Now, he's ready to take it up a notch.
"I'm going to show the UFC fighters and the fans that I'm the best boxer in the company in the welterweight division," Muhammad declared.
It's a gutsy move considering his Australian opponent, Della Maddalena, boasts 12 KO finishes compared to Muhammad's five. But the champ isn't worried.
Muhammad started wrestling late, picking it up at 23 after just two years of high school experience. He credits his success to natural talent.
"This is all natural talent," Muhammad said on the 'Full Send Podcast', explaining his rapid rise in the sport.
The fight has big implications for the lightweight division too. If Muhammad wins, we'll likely see Ilia Topuria face Islam Makhachev on June 28. But if Della Maddalena pulls off the upset, Makhachev might move up for a shot at double-champ status, leaving Topuria to potentially face Charles Oliveira.
The UFC has faced some criticism over poor ticket sales for this event. High prices and Muhammad's less media-friendly persona might be factors. But with the champ promising fireworks, fans might be in for a surprise on fight night.
