Belal Muhammad is the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion set to defend his title for the first time against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10, 2025 in Montreal’s Bell Centre. Since January 2019, the American underdog has amassed an unbeaten streak of ten wins with one no contest in his last eleven Octagon outings. Known for his tactical acumen more than stoppages, Muhammad has built a reputation on relentless pressure, iron-clad defense and an ever-evolving striking game. As “Remember the Name,” he steps into the co-main event slot on UFC 315 with eyes set on cementing his legacy among welterweight greats and proving that championships are won by brains as much as brawn.
Table of Contents
Quick Bio & Key Stats
- Full name: Belal “Remember the Name” Muhammad
- Date of birth: July 9, 1988 (36)
- Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Team affiliations: Valle Flow Striking; Chicago Fight Team; Roufusport
- Height / Reach: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) / 72 in (183 cm)
- Weight class: Welterweight (170 lb / 77 kg)
- Professional record: 24-3-0 (1 NC) with five KO/TKO wins, one submission and eighteen decisions
- UFC record: 19-3-0 (1 NC) with three Performance of the Night bonuses
- Stance: Orthodox
- Signature stats: 4.55 significant strikes landed per minute; 57% significant-strike defense; 1.98 takedowns landed per 15 minutes; 93% takedown defense
Early Life & Martial Arts Background
Belal Muhammad was born on July 9, 1988 in Chicago to Palestinian immigrant parents, where he and his four siblings were raised in a household that valued both education and tenacity. His parents emphasized discipline and belief in self-improvement, lessons Muhammad carried into the gym as a teenager. He began wrestling in high school before transitioning to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at age 22 under the tutelage of Talal Rouffa in Chicago Fight Team, earning his black belt within a compressed timeline of dedication and focus. Looking to sharpen his striking, he relocated to Milwaukee to train at Roufusport in 2013, where he developed a tight guard and improved head movement, setting the foundation for his future UFC success.
Regional Circuit & Bellator Experience
Muhammad turned professional in 2012, making his debut at Mid America Combat 12 with a first-round submission victory. Over the next three years he competed across Illinois, capturing regional titles in promotions such as Hoosier FC and Victory FC, and compiled a 10-2 record before signing with Bellator in 2015. His Bellator run included a unanimous decision over Danny Tims and a split-decision loss to Chidi Njokuani, experiences that honed his cardio and fight-IQ against diverse opponents. A six-fight winning streak between 2016 and 2018 caught Dana White’s eye, earning Muhammad a spot on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he delivered a unanimous decision over Carlos Hernandez to secure his UFC contract in September 2018.
UFC Debut & Rapid Ascension
Muhammad debuted for the UFC on November 30, 2018 at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale, facing James Moontasri and earning a unanimous decision in his welterweight debut, showcasing his improved striking and smothering cage control. In his second Octagon outing he fought Lyman Good in April 2019, where an accidental eye poke forced a no contest just 29 seconds in. Unfazed, he rebounded against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at UFC São Paulo in September 2019, grinding out a hard-fought decision in front of a pro-Brazilian crowd, marking his first UFC winning streak.
Breakthrough Wins & Streak Building
Between 2019 and 2022, Muhammad defeated rising talents Vicente Luque, Demian Maia and Sean Brady to cement his reputation as a grinder who could both out-strike and out-wrestle high-level technicians. He earned Performance of the Night bonuses for his knockout of Anthony Ribeiro in 2020 and his arm-triangle choke of Stephen Thompson in 2021—a testament to his evolving grappling prowess and finish instincts. A unanimous decision over Demian Maia demonstrated his striking improvements, as he landed 144 significant strikes while absorbing only 49, highlighting a striking differential of +3.1 per minute that ranked among the division’s best.
Title Contention & Interim Title Fight
Muhammad’s five-fight winning streak by mid-2023 vaulted him into title eliminator territory. In June 2023, he faced Gilbert Burns at UFC 299, controlling distance with a double-jab strategy and showcasing elite takedown defense—stopping 92% of Burns’ attempts—to secure a unanimous decision and stake his claim for Welterweight gold. The victory set up a clash with Leon Edwards, although their initially scheduled bout was postponed due to health protocols, delaying Muhammad’s shot at championship glory by months.
Winning the Welterweight Championship
On July 27, 2024 at UFC 304 in Manchester, Muhammad faced Leon Edwards for the Welterweight title, delivering a calculated performance that combined feint-jab counters, underhook-control clinch work and a takedown in the championship rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory and the gold. He finished the fight with a 4.02 strike differential, landed 238 significant strikes over five rounds and defended six of seven takedown attempts, underscoring his championship caliber. That win made him only the second Palestinian-American to hold a UFC title and cemented his legacy in the welterweight lineage.
Title Reign & First Defense at UFC 315
Following his title triumph, Muhammad maintained activity with a close split-decision win over Khamzat Chimaev in December 2024, in a fight lauded for his ability to survive heavy wrestling pressure in round one then counter-strike effectively in rounds two and three. Now, at UFC 315 on May 10, 2025, Muhammad gears up to defend his belt against Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena in MMA’s return to Canada, seeking to prove that his championship run was no fluke and that his championship mindset thrives under the brightest lights.
Technical Breakdown: Striking Offense
Muhammad’s striking is built on a high-volume jab, landing an average of 5.44 jabs per minute that disrupt opponents’ timing and set up his straight right hand. He varies target levels—alternating head and body jabs—to open up space for overhand rights and calf kicks, generating a significant-strike differential of +1.2 per minute across his last eight bouts. Unlike pure knockout artists, his bombs come as counters to opponent mistakes, timed with head-movement drills honed under experienced striking coaches and refined through global training camps.
Technical Breakdown: Grappling & Wrestling
With a takedown accuracy of 35% and takedown defense north of 93%, Muhammad uses wrestling both as a defensive tool and an offensive option to punish strikers who respect his hands. He often initiates scrambles with collar ties and underhooks in the clinch, transitioning to trips or double-legs when opportunities arise, as displayed against Stephen Thompson, where he scored three takedowns and nearly finished the fight on the mat. His brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ensures submissions remain a threat—evident in his arm-triangle choke of Shavkat Rakhmonov in early 2022—which keeps opponents cautious on the ground.
Technical Breakdown: Defensive Excellence
Belal relies on a high-guard shoulder-roll style at range and precise footwork in the clinch, yielding a 57% significant-strike defense that frustrates volume strikers. He has mastered the art of the “post counter”—planting his lead foot after a block to spring his rear hand back—allowing immediate retaliation after defense, a skill sharpened in elite head-movement circuits. His ability to parry and counter-punch without over-committing underpins his durability, with only one knockout loss in his 28-fight career.
Training Camp & Team Dynamics
Led by striking coaches and head coaches in Chicago and Milwaukee, Muhammad’s camps revolve around concept days (pressure, countering, clinch defense), pressure-test sparring and scenario drilling tailored to opponent tendencies. Strength and conditioning programs integrate wrestling-specific circuits and swim-tank respirator drills to elevate Muhammad’s gas tank for five-round championship wars, ensuring he sustains output above four significant strikes per minute into late rounds.
Mental Approach & Khabib Influence
In preparation for his title win, Muhammad traveled to Dagestan to train under Khabib Nurmagomedov, emphasizing positional wrestling and pressure transitions that elevated his grappling IQ. He credits that mentor for teaching him the value of “pressure without rush,” focusing on chain wrestling rather than single-shot attempts, a philosophy that translated into his championship performance against Leon Edwards. Nightly visualization drills, guided by sports psychology routines, reinforce his tactical game plan and mental resilience against championship jitters.
What to Expect at UFC 315 vs Jack Della Maddalena
Against the powerful puncher and southpaw-switcher Della Maddalena, Muhammad must use lateral movement to avoid over-eagerness in pocket exchanges and double-jab to stifle range changes. Checking calf kicks early will preserve his lead leg and limit his challenger’s finishing options, while underhook control in the clinch can nullify takedown attempts and sap the challenger’s output. Late-fight pace—an area where Muhammad has outworked past opponents—could prove decisive if the fight reaches the championship rounds.
For a complete look at all upcoming bouts—from UFC pay-per-views to international promotions—check out our MMA Schedule for the full calendar, updated weekly. To see where Jack Della Maddalena and all the top contenders rank in their divisions, head over to our MMA Rankings section for the latest divisional and pound-for-pound standings.
Conclusion
Belal Muhammad’s journey from Chicago regional gyms to UFC Welterweight champion epitomizes the blend of technique, strategy and unwavering mindset required at the sport’s summit. His first title defense at UFC 315 against Jack Della Maddalena on May 10, 2025 represents both a personal proving ground and a chance to solidify his place among the welterweight greats. Win or lose, Muhammad’s cerebral approach, honed by global elite camps, ensures that his legacy will endure as a fighter defined by precision, resolve and the art of “Remember the Name”.