UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad believes his long and grueling path to the title means a quicker route to another belt is on the cards.
Muhammad added the 170-pound gold to his résumé late last month in Manchester, headlining the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in enemy territory in competition for Leon Edwards' throne.
"Remember the Name" made good on his confident pre-fight predictions, dragging "Rocky" to deep waters with his pressure wrestling and ever-improving striking game en route to a lopsided decision win.
While a significant moment for his career, the crowning has certainly not marked the completion of Muhammad's ambitions. And as well a rise up the pound-for-pound ranks from his current #5 ranking, that includes entry into the 'champ-champ' club...
Muhammad Targets Two Welterweight Defenses Before Middleweight Shot
During a recent interview with John Morgan for Grind City Media, Muhammad discussed the current landscape of the welterweight division and assessed how much work he'll have to put in to open up a path to 185 pounds.
"Remember the Name" has frequently discussed the sheer number of top contenders he had to go through in order to finally earn a first championship opportunity. And having already defeated four names inside the top 10, he expects to only require a couple of defenses before his gaze fully drifts to the middleweight strap.
I beat this guy, this guy, this guy. ... None of these guys beat a number one contender like I beat a number one contender," Muhammad said. "When I beat Luque, he was on a seven-fight winning streak...he weighed in as a backup. When I beat Gilbert Burns, he was on a two-fight winning streak; he was the number one contender. ... Sean Brady was 15-0 when I beat him. All these guys had big wins, huge wins.
It tells me that I've got maybe two fights and then I can start talking about double-champ status because I already beat all these guys in the top 10," Muhammad continued.
While he's now quickly setting his sights on the gold held above him by Dricus Du Plessis, Muhammad has also poured gold water on the two-division ambitions of another UFC champion.
In recent years, "Remember the Name" has often trained alongside lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev. Although the Dagestani has been firm in outlining his plans to secure the welterweight belt, the presence of his friend on that throne means his pursuit of another belt has paused for the time being.