Chael Sonnen gets 100% real on how Belal Muhammad set "great example" for everybody

Chael Sonnen recently opened up about Belal Muhammad's UFC future following his title loss earlier this month. Sonnen voiced his admiration for Muhammad, citing him as an exemplary fighter.

Muhammad has been criticized by many in the MMA community for being a boring fighter as a majority of his victories have come via decisions. However, he prevailed over some notable fan favorites like Stephen Thompson, Gilbert Burns, Vicente Luque, and Leon Edwards, remaining undefeated in 11 straight octagon appearances until UFC 315.

In a recent interview with The Schmo, Sonnen offered his thoughts on Muhammad receiving unfair criticism. The Hall of Famer extended his support for the former champion, citing Muhammad's willingness to fight any top contender.

''All Belal has ever done is fight the hardest guys, ask for opportunities, and keep his mouth shut when it doesn’t go his way. The best thing he’s done is he called for his next fight. He did the exact same thing in a loss that he would have done in a win-all the way to the opponent. If he had won that fight, he would have called for a fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov. He lost the fight, and he’s still calling for a fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov. That’s a great example Belal set for everybody, and it’s another thing he won’t get credit for-but he deserves it."

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Check out Chael Sonnen's comments below (via Red Corner MMA's X post):

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Muhammad was originally slated to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, but a foot injury prevented him from competing. The two were then scheduled for UFC 315, however this time Rakhmonov pulled out due to a reported knee injury, forcing Jack Della Maddalena to step in on short notice.

Della Maddalena defeated Muhammad by unanimous decision to become the new champion, following a dominant allround performance.

UFC commentator names Belal Muhammad's next opponent

In a recent episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast, UFC commentator Jon Anik said that Belal Muhammad's next MMA outing would be against undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov after their two failed matchups.

''We will see what Shavkat Rakhmonov has for him in October. Belal vs Shavkat in October. There's your breaking news."

Check out Jon Anik's comments below:

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However, Rakhmonov’s manager Daniel Rubenstein quickly took to X and dismissed the reports of the Kazakh's matchup with Muhammad.

'Remember the name' is coming off a devastating defeat against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, losing his title in the process.

About the author

Swagat is a dynamic MMA writer with a total experience of a little less than a year, which includes time in retail and sports journalism. He holds an MBA degree.

Swagat fell in love with the sport after watching the iconic grudge match between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in early 2015. Nate Diaz holds a special place in his heart for the Stockton native’s entertaining fan-friendly style and ability to deliver exciting fights regardless of the opponent.

In terms of rule changes in MMA, Swagat advocates for making scores public after each round, adding transparency to judging decisions.

Swagat prioritizes accuracy and relevance while writing and conducts thorough research to ensure the content is fresh and reliable.

He enjoys playing football and painting during his free time.

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Edited by Swagat Kumar Jena