Belal Muhammad: Lifting the belt in Abu Dhabi would be one for the story books

A week after the biggest win of his career to date, Belal Muhammad is still basking in the afterglow. To be fair, he’s earned it.

Then the UFC’s No 4-ranked welterweight contender, Muhammad dominated No 5 Gilbert Burns in their short-notice bout at UFC 288, taking the fight on three weeks' notice and earning a unanimous decision win to increase his unbeaten streak to 10.

More importantly, it guaranteed Muhammad a first shot at UFC gold.

“Feels amazing,” the American tells The National from his base in Chicago. “I literally got a call yesterday from one of my friends and he's like, ‘Hey, dude, if I was you, I'll just go to the grocery store and be like, 'Yeah, I'm fighting for the title next'. Just yell it out.’”

Probably for the best, Muhammad decided not to take his friend’s advice. But it doesn’t mean he appreciates any less his present position in the sport.

Now the No 3 challenger at 170 lbs, he has for some time called for a championship bout, for his talent and recent track record to be allowed to speak for itself.

Within that run of nine wins and one no contest (his curtailed 2021 clash with now-champion Leon Edwards), Muhammad has seen off five top-10 fighters. Three were top five.

Clearly, he deserves where he finds himself today.

“It feels good because it was a long road,” Muhammad says. “I had a lot of ups and downs. Nothing was given to me; nothing was handed to me.

“I had to grind and claw myself for every opportunity I was given. And to take a fight like that on three weeks’ notice and to beat the No 5 guy in the world and beat him dominantly, it just shows that God's plan is the best plan.

“All the work I put in, all the stresses, the crying, the thinking, the overthinking … you're like, ‘What's going to