Belal Muhammad enters his UFC Vegas 118 bout against Gabriel Bonfim as a slight betting favourite despite having lost his last two fights. Bonfim heads into the matchup on a four-fight winning streak, making the odds an intriguing storyline heading into fight week.
Belal Muhammad enters UFC Vegas 118 as a slight betting favourite against Gabriel Bonfim despite arriving at the welterweight matchup on the back of consecutive losses.
Muhammad, known as "Remember the Name," holds a 24-5 record and sits at number six in the welterweight rankings, with a pound-for-pound ranking of eighth. The 37-year-old American, who trains out of Roufusport, stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach. He averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 43 percent accuracy and contributes a steady 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes, underlining a well-rounded style that has made him a consistent force in the division. Back-to-back defeats, however, have put his ranking position under real pressure.
Bonfim, nicknamed "Marretinha," enters the bout carrying momentum that Muhammad currently lacks. The 28-year-old Brazilian, who trains with the Bonfim Brothers team, carries a 19-1 record and is ranked tenth at welterweight. Standing six-foot-one with a matching 72-inch reach, he is the busier and more accurate striker in this pairing, landing 4.61 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy. He also poses a serious grappling threat, averaging 3.6 takedowns and 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Muhammad needs a win to protect his top-six ranking and stay relevant in welterweight title contention
- A Bonfim victory could push the tenth-ranked Brazilian into the division's upper tier and toward bigger matchups
- The style matchup pits Muhammad's wrestling-heavy, durable approach against Bonfim's high-volume striking and active grappling
- The contrast between Muhammad's experience and Bonfim's recent winning form makes the slight odds gap one of the more debated storylines heading into fight week
