Belal Muhammad, the new UFC welterweight champion, expressed confidence and validation following his victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in Manchester, emphasizing the support and belief from his team. He reflected on the broader context of his win, highlighting the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel, which underscored the relative unimportance of his fight. Despite the turmoil in his ancestral home, Muhammad maintained focus and perspective, noting the dire situation faced by Palestinians. Post-fight, top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov requested a title shot, to which Muhammad responded positively, expressing his readiness to face any challenger and solidify his legacy as the best welterweight.
It appears the UFC opted to slap Islam Makhachev’s arm onto Muhammad’s body for promotional photos. This isn’t the first instance of the UFC getting caught with sloppy photoshopping. Fans have pointed out previous occurrences where Kamaru Usman’s arm was recycled for various champions, including Jamahal Hill.
The UFC’s carelessness was notably evident when they used a photoshopped image of Hill instead of Edwards to announce UFC 278, a bout that Edwards headlined against Usman. This oversight suggested a lack of respect for Edwards, despite his arduous journey to reclaim his title shot.
Fans were quick to notice these blunders. They pointed out how the UFC hastily modified Usman’s arm to fit Hill’s skin tone and added Hill’s tattoo to maintain a semblance of authenticity.
Similar mistakes were made with promotional images of other champions, including a funny instance where fans used Ngannou’s arm, to parody UFC using Weili Zhang’s arm for Alexa Grasso.
The UFC’s tendency to reuse body parts for promotional material has not gone unnoticed by its fanbase. Social media erupted with criticism, highlighting the promotion’s disregard for the athletes’ hard work and dedication. Fans suggested that taking pre-fight photos of potential title challengers could prevent such embarrassing mistakes.
Adding fuel to the fire, UFC ticket prices have skyrocketed, with UFC Noche tickets going for $3000. This price surge has left many fans frustrated, especially given the UFC’s reported cost-cutting measures.
Despite the backlash, the UFC has remained silent on these issues. The fighters and their supporters, however, continue to voice their displeasure, calling for more respect and better representation for the athletes who sacrifice so much for their sport.
