Belal Muhammad releases statement after UFC 315 championship loss

Belal Muhammad is already looking ahead after a disappointing loss in his first championship defense.

“Remember the Name” fell short on the scorecards in the UFC 315 main event and dropped his welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena after an intense five-round fight. All three judges scored the fight for Della Maddalena, with two submitting narrow 48-47 cards.

Later on Saturday, Muhammad took to social media to briefly comment on the loss and his future.

“Allah’s plan is the best plan,” Muhammad wrote. “Alhamdillah for everything. Thank you to all my supporters. I been here before and I’ll be back.”

It has been over six years since Muhammad last tasted defeat, a unanimous decision loss to Geoff Neal. He went 11 straight fights without a loss, including a 2021 no-contest against Leon Edwards in a bout that ended prematurely due to an accidental eye poke that left Muhammad unable to continue. Muhammad later settled the score with Edwards at UFC 304, where he won a dominant decision to become welterweight champion.

Unfortunately for Muhammad, it’s back to the drawing board for now as he failed to author a successful title defense. It’s doubtful Muhammad receives an immediate rematch with friend and training partner, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, looking to add the 170-pound belt to his trophy case, and an intriguing line of contenders waiting in the wings.

Muhammad’s potential opponents include the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov (who was scheduled to fight Muhammad for the title at UFC 310 before Muhammad withdrew due to a bone infection in his foot), Ian Machado Garry, or Sean Brady (who Muhammad holds a win over). The results of next Saturday’s Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales UFC Vegas 106 headliner or the June 14 UFC Atlanta main event between former champion Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley could also factor into Muhammad’s future.