Belal Muhammad Feels Kamaru Usman is a Tougher Fight than Shavkat Rakhmonov

The UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has been trying to solve a small puzzle: to fight either Kamaru Usman or Shavkat Rakhmonov. And every time, his will leans slightly more towards Kamaru Usman. Belal Muhammad believes that Usman is a tougher fight, and defending the belt against Usman would be a win from a 360-degree consideration.

However, he pitched in the idea of seeing Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Kamaru Usman for a title eliminator.

OMG!!! Belal Muhammad slams Leon Edwards head straight 2 the GROUND - SUPER SLOW MOTION ‼️ #ufc304 pic.twitter.com/MNjG8U2jJB — MMA Homie Podcast (@theMMAhomies) July 28, 2024

Belal Muhammad compares Kamaru Usman to Shavkat Rakhmonov

Recently on the Believe You Me Podcast, Belal Muhammad explained how he feels Kamaru Usman is a tougher fight than Shavkat Rakhmonov.

“For me, I would think Usman’s a tougher fight,” Muhammad said, as quoted by mmafighting.com. “When I look at Shavkat, I see a lot of holes and I see many paths to victory. When I look at a fight and I take a fight, I come up with a strategy.

I think of: Where’s this guy weak at? Let me take him there. Alright, well, you guys wanted to test it. That’s why I think for the UFC they don’t want to put him against an Usman for a No. 1 contender fight because Usman beats him, it’s like we just lost an undefeated guy, new blood, and we get Usman back in the mix again who was just the reigning champ for five years.

I think they want new blood in general”.

Belal Muhammad comments on Kamaru Usman’s fame and name

“Obviously, money plays a big factor in everything, usman, you probably make the most money with because I think he’s the biggest name.

Legacy-wise, he was the guy that was the reigning champion for a long time, Dana White said he was better than ‘GSP’ (Georges St-Pierre). So, I think legacy, for sure, I would want to fight Usman before he’s done.

But Shavkat is that guy".