Gilbert Burns recently spoke out about the animosity directed towards Belal Muhammad before and after their UFC 288 match.
Muhammad’s unanimous decision win against Burns earned him the next shot at the welterweight title. He will be competing against the winner of the upcoming title match following the rumored Colby Covington title shot.
Gilbert Burns’ performance was significantly impacted by what looked to be a shoulder injury sustained during his takedown attempt in the first round. However, he posted a photo asking the fans to stop hating the welterweight contender.
Burns stated: “Stop the hate and start to appreciate! #ufc288”
Belal Muhammad’s victory over Gilbert Burns was a testament to his skill and determination. Despite competing with an ankle injury, Muhammad managed to make adjustments and avoid Burns’ game. The win was Muhammad’s ninth straight victory and earned him the next shot at the welterweight title.
Belal Muhammad showed at both his pre-bout news conference and his post-bout interview that he is unfazed by the crowd’s jeers. He has instead come to enjoy playing the bad guy.
While speaking to Joe Rogan after his unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Burns at UFC 288, Muhammad responded to the boos from the crowd by firing back at them.
He said: “My first thoughts are New Jersey, you suck. Second thoughts, Leon [Edwards] and Colby [Covington], I’m coming for both of you guys.”
The 35-year-old will probably have to wait quite a while to compete for the title match, maybe even until the beginning of 2024.
Edwards vs. Covington will take place later this year rather than the London card that was slated for July. Muhammad’s quest for the welterweight title will continue, and it will be exciting to see how he performs in his next matchup.