Kamaru Usman

Belal Muhammad has publicly stated his willingness to go up to middleweight to finally secure a long-sought fight against Kamaru Usman. Muhammad, currently on a three-fight skid after losing the welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena and subsequent defeats to Ian Machado Garry and Gabriel Bonfim, says he has been pushing for the Usman matchup for years. Usman, who has campaigned at middleweight in recent bouts against Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis, may be intent on staying at 185 pounds, but Muhammad says the fight makes sense wherever it is booked.

Muhammad

Mukhamed Berhamov, who has sparred with Shavkat Rakhmonov, Kamaru Usman, and Ian Garry among others, says Islam Makhachev is the physically strongest welterweight he has ever encountered. Berhamov highlighted Makhachev's grip strength and clinch control, noting that once Makhachev latches on it is extremely difficult to break free. He added that Makhachev's physical power is impossible to appreciate without actually working with him, as it is not apparent from appearance alone.

Rakhmonov, Makhachev