Belal Muhammad has stated that he has moved on from his rivalry with Kamaru Usman. The welterweight contender appears ready to shift his focus elsewhere as he looks ahead in his career.
Belal Muhammad has publicly declared that his long-running rivalry with Kamaru Usman is behind him, signaling a shift in focus as the welterweight contender plots his next move heading into mid-2026.
Muhammad, ranked sixth at welterweight and eighth in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 24-5-0 record and has established himself as one of the division's most consistent performers. The 37-year-old orthodox striker out of Roufusport lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 43 percent accuracy and adds a steady takedown threat at 2.14 per 15 minutes, making him a genuinely well-rounded threat at 170 pounds.
Usman, for his part, sits at eighth in the welterweight rankings with a 21-4-0 record. The 39-year-old, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, remains one of the most accomplished fighters in division history. He lands 4.36 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 52 percent accuracy and has averaged 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career — numbers that reflect the dominant wrestling-based style that defined his championship run.
The two share a notable stylistic overlap: both are wrestling-oriented, high-output fighters who blend physical pressure with grappling. That similarity may have made a potential matchup between them feel redundant to Muhammad as he recalibrates his goals.
Why it matters
- Muhammad is ranked inside the top ten pound-for-pound, meaning his next opponent carries significant stakes beyond the welterweight division alone.
- With Usman now at eighth in the division, a fight between the two would have carried ranking implications on both sides — making Muhammad's decision to move on a meaningful directional choice.
- The welterweight division remains active, and Muhammad redirecting his attention could accelerate matchmaking at the top of the bracket.
