Belal Muhammad: Abu Dhabi title shot 'meant to be written' with UFC 288 win over Burns

UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad is targeting a “dream come true” title fight against Leon Edwards in Abu Dhabi later this year, as he gets set to take on Gilbert Burns at UFC 288 this weekend.

The American, ranked the division’s No 4 contender, faces the former title challenger in the co-main event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, early Sunday UAE time having agreed to the fight only two weeks out.

Unbeaten in his past nine bouts, Muhammad knows a statement win against Burns will push his case even more for a first attempt at UFC gold.

At present, UFC president Dana White has said Colby Covington is next in line to meet current champion Edwards. Meanwhile, Edwards said last month that he wants the second defence of his crown to take place in Abu Dhabi, describing it as the "perfect" scenario.

The UFC returns to the capital with UFC 294 on October 21. As of yet, no bouts have been confirmed for the Etihad Arena card.

However, having fought twice before in Abu Dhabi – the most recent, a superb TKO victory against the previously unbeaten Sean Brady at UFC 267 in October – Muhammad says a win against Burns will push him into pole position to challenge Edwards in the emirate.

“I think if I put on a great performance this weekend and get a tremendous finish or something ..." Muhammad said at Wednesday’s media day. "They’re going to Abu Dhabi. You think they’re going to have Leon fight Colby in Abu Dhabi?

“No, they’re going to have me fight in Abu Dhabi. It’ll be like a dream come true, and I think that’ll be how the story is supposed to be written. I’ve just got to do my work this weekend, and I don’t really care what nothing else is, because I know my next fight is going to be for the belt.”

Here we