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.
Belal Muhammad has expressed openness to moving up to middleweight in order to finally book a fight against Kamaru Usman, a matchup Muhammad says he has been pursuing for years.
Muhammad, nicknamed "Remember the Name," enters this conversation on the back of a difficult stretch. The 38-year-old American, currently ranked seventh at welterweight, has dropped three straight — losing the welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena before subsequent defeats to Ian Machado Garry and Gabriel Bonfim. Despite the skid, Muhammad carries a 24-5 record and has long been one of the division's busiest and most active fighters, landing 4.43 significant strikes per minute while also averaging 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes. He trains out of Roufusport and competes out of an orthodox stance at five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach.
Usman, known as "The Nigerian Nightmare," is a fellow American based with Kill Cliff FC and holds a 21-5 record. The 39-year-old stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach and has been competing at middleweight in recent outings, having faced Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis at 185 pounds. Usman's resume reflects a technically sound, well-rounded game — he connects at 50 percent striking accuracy, lands 4.13 significant strikes per minute, and averages 2.6 takedowns per 15 minutes. His database listing places him ninth in the welterweight rankings, though his recent activity has been centered at middleweight.
Muhammad says the fight makes sense regardless of where it is booked, and his public willingness to move up suggests he views the personal and competitive stakes as worth any physical adjustment.
Why it matters
- Muhammad is on a three-fight losing streak, making a high-profile fight a near-necessity to rebuild relevance in either division
- Usman's recent middleweight activity means a catch-weight or 185-pound booking could be the more realistic path to making this fight happen
- Both fighters share similar wrestling-heavy, high-volume styles, setting up a potential grappling chess match if the bout ever materializes
