Current UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and former champion Kamaru Usman have a brewing rivalry as Muhammad defends his title at UFC 315 in Montreal. Usman, returning to the 170-pound division with a fight against Joaquin Buckley, expresses intention to disrupt Muhammad’s reign. Usman, who has been absent from active competition since UFC 294, hints that tensions with Muhammad might require security during their encounters. Their feud escalated when Muhammad bragged about defeating Usman in discussions on their podcasts. Usman criticized Muhammad’s social media antics and his approach to the title, finding it distasteful.
While Muhammad remains focused on title defenses and potential matchups against notable fighters like Shavkat Rakhmonov, he is also concerned about the UFC 315 pay-per-view struggle, with low ticket sales indicating lack of interest. The card features Muhammad facing Jack Della Maddalena and Valentina Shevchenko defending her title against Manon Fiorot. With poor promotion and diminishing quality in fight offerings, both Muhammad and the UFC are facing challenges in engaging fans leading to disappointing PPV sales and overall market performance. The rivalry between Usman and Muhammad could serve as a key narrative to elevate interest if properly developed.
