Grappling Skills
Belal Muhammad stressed the foundational role of wrestling in MMA, asserting that it is a cornerstone of championship success.
“Wrestling’s the every champion is a great wrestler, every champion has wrestling,” Muhammad stated. “You could add in striking but don’t forget about the most dominant aspect of MMA which is wrestling.”
He cautioned fighters against abandoning their wrestling roots, referencing advice he gave to Bo Nickal to focus on wrestling strengths instead of prioritizing striking to entertain fans. Muhammad highlighted wrestling’s strategic importance in controlling the fight and dictating its direction, noting its versatility for long-term success.
“You gotta learn everything,” Muhammad said, emphasizing that even top strikers need to incorporate wrestling into their training. He cited teammate Ignacio Bahamondes as an example of a skilled striker who integrates wrestling into his routine, underscoring its value in MMA.
Advocacy for Palestinian Families
Using his platform as a UFC champion, Muhammad works with the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) to bring Palestinian families to the United States for medical care. One story close to his heart is that of two-year-old Jude, who lost his mother in Gaza and sustained injuries requiring him to wear leg braces.
“UFC did a story on the little child that we brought, Jude – he lives with my family right now,” Muhammad shared. “His knee was blown up and they had a big story on him because he had a Spider-Man shirt on and they showed the video of him just crying and his mom died laying on top of him trying to protect him.”
Despite Jude’s visible trauma, Muhammad finds hope in seeing him smile and play. He uses such stories to raise awareness about the human toll of conflict while continuing to advocate for humanitarian assistance.
“This is just a two-year-old kid, he didn’t deserve this, he shouldn’t have to live like this,” Muhammad said. “These are just normal people, normal kids that are dealing with this.”
Criticism of US Foreign Policy
Muhammad has been outspoken about what he sees as the US government’s economically and politically motivated stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He expressed frustration with the government’s response to humanitarian crises, pointing out a lack of prioritization for domestic issues compared to foreign military support.
“For the US to keep giving money this is your – our tax dollars, this what we’re paying for,” Muhammad said. “We have a hurricane and you know oh we’re going to give these people $700 and it’s like are you guys serious right now? If all the money that we’re giving to other – to support their wars, if you give it to our people just literally nobody would be suffering here.”
He criticized distractions that detract from addressing core issues:
“People just get keep getting distracted right – oh bitcoin’s at $100,000 right – a distraction, Hawk Tuah got a coin out – distraction.”
Muhammad questioned why the US government continues to support Israel despite widespread civilian casualties and international organizations declaring the situation a genocide. His platform amplifies these concerns, challenging American foreign policy’s alignment with humanitarian values.
Overcoming Discrimination to Become a Champion
As a Muslim and Palestinian-American fighter, Muhammad faced significant hurdles throughout his career. Despite being on an 11-fight winning streak against top-tier opponents, he felt he had to take “the long road” to earn his title shot, suggesting resistance to promoting a Palestinian champion.
Shields prodded:
“There may be some people that don’t like you with the UFC. I think Dana is fine with you, but, like, here, some of the people at ESPN from inside don’t exactly love you, maybe because of the Palestinian heritage. The owner of the UFC, um, his dad was a literal terr*rist”
Muhammad responded:
“For me right it’s I’m just happy that I got the opportunity,” Muhammad said. “People like will say it and they’ll do this but like you said Dana it doesn’t really matter to him. I’m glad that it took me the long road but they did give it to me right so I just had to make the most of it.”
Now a champion, Muhammad views his success as a beacon of representation for Palestinians. His dedication to his craft and heritage exemplifies how hard work can overcome systemic barriers.
“Now being the champion now I just got to represent and I just got to show the people of Palestine that they have a champion now,” Muhammad said.
Faith and Unity
Despite encountering prejudice, Muhammad maintains strong relationships across religious and cultural lines. He emphasizes that his opposition is to violence and injustice, not any specific group. His faith has been a source of strength, driving his pursuit of excellence and his advocacy for peace.
