Belal Muhammad (born July 9, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Welterweight Champion. As of February 3, 2026, he is #4 in the UFC welterweight rankings. A professional since 2012, he has also competed for Bellator and Titan FC.
Muhammad was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, to Palestinian parents. He has four siblings: an older brother, older sister and two younger brothers. He wrestled at Bogan High School where he had future PFL champion Louis Taylor as his wrestling coach. Taylor was later instrumental in training Muhammad for the latter's amateur career. He studied to become a lawyer and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Shortly after a TKO victory over Steve Carl to become the Titan Fighting Championships Welterweight Champion, and push his record to 9âÂÂ0, Muhammad signed with the UFC in 2016.
On July 7, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 90, Muhammad made his UFC debut, as a short-notice replacement, against Alan Jouban. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night bonuses for their performances.
Muhammad next faced Augusto Montaño on September 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 94. He won the fight via TKO in the third round.
Muhammad was expected to face Lyman Good on November 12, 2016, at UFC 205. However, on October 24, Good was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test sample collected ten days earlier. He was replaced by Vicente Luque. Muhammad lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
Muhammad was a short notice replacement and stepped in to face Randy Brown on February 11, 2017, at UFC 208. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Muhammad faced Jordan Mein on July 8, 2017, at UFC 213. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Muhammad was expected to face Jesse Taylor on November 19, 2017, at . However, on September 13, it was announced that Taylor was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test conducted on August 22. He was replaced by Tim Means. Muhammad won the fight via split decision.
Muhammad was expected to face Niko Price on June 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 131. However, Price was removed from the bout on May 22 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by promotional newcomer Chance Rencountre. Muhammad won the fight via unanimous decision.
Muhammad was scheduled to meet Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on September 22, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137. However, on September 14, 2018, Muhammad was pulled from the bout and he was replaced by newcomer Luigi Vendramini.
Muhammad faced Geoff Neal on January 19, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 143. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Muhammad faced Curtis Millender on April 13, 2019, at UFC 236. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Muhammad faced Takashi Sato on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round. This win earned Muhammad his first Performance of the Night award.
Muhammad was expected to face Lyman Good on April 18, 2020, at UFC 249. However on April 4, Good pulled out due to COVID-19 infection. The bout was rebooked and eventually took place on June 20, 2020, at . He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Muhammad was expected to face Sean Brady on December 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 183. However in late October, Brady had a broken nose and had to pull out of their bout, and he was replaced by Dhiego Lima. Subsequently, Muhammed was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the week leading up to the event and the bout was scrapped from the card and the bout was rescheduled to February 13, 2021, at UFC 258 Muhammad won the fight via unanimous decision.
Muhammad faced Leon Edwards on March 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 187. During the second round, Edwards poked Muhammad in the eye rendering him unable to continue. The fight was declared a no contest.
Muhammad faced Demian Maia on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263. Muhammad won the fight via unanimous decision.
Muhammad faced Stephen Thompson on December 18, 2021, at . He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Muhammad faced Vicente Luque in a rematch on April 16, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 34. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Muhammad faced Sean Brady on October 22, 2022, at UFC 280. He won the bout via TKO stoppage at the end of the second round. UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was one of his cornermen for this fight. He received his second Performance of the Night bonus.
Muhammad faced Gilbert Burns on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288. Muhammad won by unanimous decision.
Muhammad faced Leon Edwards in a rematch, for the UFC Welterweight Championship on July 27, 2024, at UFC 304. He won the fight and the title by unanimous decision.
Muhammad was scheduled to make his first UFC Welterweight Championship defense against undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov on December 7, 2024, at UFC 310. However, due to a bone infection in his foot, Muhammad was forced to withdraw, delaying his first title defense.
Despite his absence from the card, Muhammad attended the event and attempted to enter the Octagon for a post-fight face-off with Rakhmonov. However, in an instance of mistaken identity, arena securityâÂÂunaware of his status as the reigning championâÂÂblocked his entry and treated him as an over-excited fan. The awkward delay lasted until commentator Joe Rogan took to the microphone to clarify, "He's the champion, let him in!" The incident became a subject of ridicule on social media, most notably from Conor McGregor, who mockingly questioned the champion's level of fame.
In February 2025, with Rakhmonov unable to compete due to an injury, Muhammad was scheduled to instead defend his title against Jack Della Maddalena on May 10, 2025, at UFC 315. He lost the fight and the title by unanimous decision. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.
Muhammad faced Ian Machado Garry on November 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 265. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Muhammad is scheduled to face Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Fight Night 278 on June 6, 2026.
Muhammad was scheduled to compete against Tarek Suleiman in the no gi co-main event of ADXC 1 on October 20, 2023. He withdrew from the match on short notice and was replaced by Marvin Vettori.
Muhammad competed at RAF 04 on December 20, 2025, losing to David Carr.
Muhammad is a Muslim, and an outspoken supporter of Palestine. He has denounced the 2021 IsraelâÂÂPalestine crisis showing support for Palestinians while also condemning antisemitism.
On June 1, 2020, businesses owned by Muhammad's father and cousins in Chicago were looted and destroyed as a result of the George Floyd unrest.
He threw the ceremonial first pitch for the Chicago Cubs on July 28, 2021.
|- |Loss |align=center|24âÂÂ5 (1) |Ian Machado Garry |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Al Rayyan, Qatar | |- |Loss |align=center|24âÂÂ4 (1) |Jack Della Maddalena |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 315 | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |- |Win |align=center|24âÂÂ3 (1) |Leon Edwards |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 304 | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Manchester, England | |- |Win |align=center|23âÂÂ3 (1) |Gilbert Burns |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 288 | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Newark, New Jersey, United States | |- |Win |align=center| |Sean Brady |TKO (punches) |UFC 280 | |align=center|2 |align=center|4:47 |Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |- |Win |align=center|21âÂÂ3 (1) |Vicente Luque |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|20âÂÂ3 (1) |Stephen Thompson |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|19âÂÂ3 (1) |Demian Maia |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 263 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Glendale, Arizona, United States | |- |NC |align=center|18âÂÂ3 (1) |Leon Edwards |NC (accidental eye poke) | | |align=center|2 |align=center|0:18 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|18âÂÂ3 |Dhiego Lima |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 258 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|17âÂÂ3 |Lyman Good |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|16âÂÂ3 |Takashi Sato |Submission (rear-naked choke) |UFC 242 | |align=center|3 |align=center|1:55 |Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |- |Win |align=center|15âÂÂ3 |Curtis Millender |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 236 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|14âÂÂ3 |Geoff Neal |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Brooklyn, New York, United States | |- |Win |align=center|14âÂÂ2 |Chance Rencountre |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Utica, New York, United States | |- |Win |align=center|13âÂÂ2 |Tim Means |Decision (split) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Sydney, Australia | |- |Win |align=center|12âÂÂ2 |Jordan Mein |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 213 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|11âÂÂ2 |Randy Brown |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 208 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Brooklyn, New York, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|10âÂÂ2 |Vicente Luque |KO (punches) |UFC 205 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:19 |New York City, New York, United States | |- |Win |align=center| 10âÂÂ1 |Augusto Montaño |TKO (punches) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|4:19 |Hidalgo, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |align=center| 9âÂÂ1 |Alan Jouban |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center| 3 |align=center| 5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center| 9âÂÂ0 |Steve Carl |TKO (punches) |Titan FC 38 | |align=center| 4 |align=center| 4:07 |Miami, Florida, United States | |- | Win |align=center| 8âÂÂ0 |Zane Kamaka | Decision (unanimous) |Titan FC 35 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Ridgefield, Washington, United States | |- | Win |align=center| 7âÂÂ0 |Keith Johnson | Decision (unanimous) |Titan FC 33 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Mobile, Alabama, United States | |- |Win |align=center| 6âÂÂ0 |Chris Curtis |Decision (unanimous) |Hoosier Fight Club 21 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | |- |Win |align=center| 5âÂÂ0 |A.J. Matthews |Decision (unanimous) |Bellator 112 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Hammond, Indiana, United States | |- |Win |align=center| 4âÂÂ0 |Garrett Gross |Decision (unanimous) |Hoosier Fight Club 18 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | |- |Win |align=center| 3âÂÂ0 |Jimmy Fritz |TKO (punches) |Hoosier Fight Club 15 | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:19 |Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | |- |Win |align=center| 2âÂÂ0 |Quinton McCottrell |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Hammond, Indiana, United States | |- |Win |align=center| 1âÂÂ0 |Justin Brock |TKO (punches) |Hoosier Fight Club 12 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:17 |Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | |-