Belal Muhammad Ready For UFC Return, No Interest In Fighting Islam Makhachev

Belal Muhammad says he is again within the gymnasium and gunning to make a mid-2025 return to the Octagon … however he isn’t trying to share the Octagon with coaching accomplice Islam Makhachev.

TMZ Sports activities talked to the UFC welterweight champ … a number of weeks after 36-year-old Muhammad was pressured to drag out of his title protection battle with primary contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

“I think for sure, May, June, right after Ramadan is where I’m aiming for. And, definitely before summertime, that would work perfectly for me, where I could get in three fights this year, that’s my goal, to stay active,” Belal informed us of his plans.

However, is Rakhmonov, 19-0, nonetheless the opp? Muhammad says sure.

“I think it’s still Shavkat. I think for the way that he fought Ian Garry. They were going for the number one contender fight. And he’s still that boogeyman, right, where people are still pointing him out, saying, ‘He’s going to beat you now, he’s going to kill you now.'”

It is virtually definitely going to be the 30-year-old high contender … although Kamaru Usman — former longtime 170 lb. champ — made waves when he recommended BM battle Makhachev, his coaching accomplice and present light-weight title holder.

Nevertheless, Belal says he isn’t due to the connection he has with Islam, Khabib, and the remainder of their workforce.

“I mean, for me, I definitely wouldn’t want to fight them guys, like they’ve done so much for me, they helped me so much and I consider them like brothers, so in my mind it’s not one of those things that I’m going to go out there and search for,” Muhammad informed us.

BM, in answering the query, additionally took a scorching at Kamaru for the suggestion.

“You freaking bum. You never trained with Adesanya in your life, and you said you were never going to fight Adesanya. You never trained with Khabib in your life, and you said you’re never going to fight Khabib.”