Belal Muhammad believes that if Hamzat Chimaev defeats Sean Strickland, he will receive a title shot in the light heavyweight division against Paulo Costa. Notably, Muhammad used the term "vacant" rather than "interim" when discussing the potential title bout. It is unclear whether this was an error or if Muhammad believes Carlos Ulberg's belt could become vacant if he is sidelined long-term due to injury. The speculation adds intrigue to potential future championship scenarios at 205 pounds, though the prediction involves multiple hypothetical outcomes.
Belal Muhammad has floated a multi-layered championship scenario at light heavyweight, suggesting that a Hamzat Chimaev victory over Sean Strickland could set up Chimaev for a 205-pound title fight against Paulo Costa — and notably referring to that potential belt as "vacant" rather than "interim," raising questions about the future of current light heavyweight titleholder Carlos Ulberg.
The report is unconfirmed and involves several hypothetical steps, so it should be treated as speculation rather than any official UFC position.
Strickland, 35, holds the middleweight championship and carries a 31-7 record into any future assignment. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture in an orthodox stance, the six-foot-one American lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute and possesses a seventy-six-inch reach, making him one of the busier volume strikers in the sport.
Costa, also 35 and ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division at 16-4, would presumably need to move up to 205 pounds for the scenario Muhammad describes. The Brazilian known as "The Eraser" is a volume striker in his own right, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — among the higher marks in the division.
At the center of the intrigue is Ulberg, the New Zealand fighter currently ranked third at light heavyweight with a 15-1 record. The six-foot-four City Kickboxing product lands 6.54 significant strikes per minute and connects at 55 percent accuracy. Muhammad's use of the word "vacant" implies he may believe Ulberg's championship situation could change, though the summary offers no confirmation of that.
Why it matters
- Muhammad's word choice — "vacant" rather than "interim" — hints at possible uncertainty surrounding Ulberg's title status
- A Chimaev win over Strickland would send a middleweight contender into 205-pound title contention, a significant cross-divisional storyline
- Costa's potential involvement adds a third division-crossing element to an already layered hypothetical
