Ali Abdelaziz sends poignant message about Belal Muhammad amid the veteran MMA fighter's UFC setbacks

Belal Muhammad has long been associated with Dominance MMA management's founder, Ali Abdelaziz. He's been one of Abdelaziz's notable clients over the years and also has a UFC world championship to his name. 

Nevertheless, Muhammad has lately been going through a challenging phase in his MMA career. The American fighter of Palestinian descent is coming off his third consecutive defeat inside the octagon, with his latest being one against Gabriel Bonfim. 

Well, Abdelaziz has now directed a few words of high praise toward Muhammad in a rather moving message regarding the veteran mixed martial arts athlete. 

Belal Muhammad's ascent and subsequent UFC setbacks

Belal Muhammad worked his way up the combat sports food chain by competing in regional MMA organizations as well as partaking in fights under the Bellator MMA banner early in his career. 

"Remember the Name" made his UFC promotional debut in July 2016. For years, he was regarded as a well-rounded fighter, albeit someone who'd be unable to beat the elites in the 170-pound division. 

Regardless, after a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Geoff Neal in January 2019, he went on to win 10 of his next 11 fights -- with the only one he didn't win being an eye-poke-induced No Contest against Leon Edwards in 2021. 

Muhammad faced then-UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards in a rematch in July 2024 and beat him via unanimous decision to capture the welterweight belt.

The Chicago native thereby became the first-ever Arab and Palestinian UFC champion. He, however, lost the welterweight title in his very next fight, suffering a unanimous decision defeat against Australia's Jack Della Maddalena in May of last year. 

Ali Abdelaziz's touching message regarding former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad

Belal Muhammad's welterweight title loss was followed by his fight against Ireland's Ian Machado Garry last November. Garry ended up beating him via unanimous decision and handed him his second consecutive loss. 

Muhammad's next, and most recent octagon appearance, witnessed him suffer his third back-to-back setback. It came in the form of a unanimous decision defeat against Brazil's Gabriel Bonfim at the UFC Fight Night event they headlined last month, on June 6, to be specific. 

While Muhammad's next opponent and comeback date remain shrouded in mystery, he recently reassured his supporters that he wouldn't let the setbacks deter him. 

Furthermore, Muhammad is scheduled to compete in a cruiserweight freestyle wrestling match against UFC veteran and retired MMA star Ben Askren at RAF 11 in Milwaukee on July 18. 

On that note, Muhammad's longtime manager Ali Abdelaziz took to X a few hours ago and paid tribute to the 37-year-old fighter's arduous journey in the MMA realm. Abdelaziz wrote: 

"I'm sitting here at 2:30 in the morning thinking about the odds and the obstacles Belal Muhammad had to overcome to become a UFC champion. Nothing was handed to him. Every step of the way, he had to earn it through resilience, discipline, and an unbreakable belief in himself." 

Abdelaziz added, "Beyond the championship, it's what he represents that makes his story so special. He has always stood proudly for his people and never wavered from who he is, no matter the pressure." 

 

Check out Ali Abdelaziz's poignant X post about Belal Muhammad below: 

I’m sitting here at 2:30 in the morning thinking about the odds and the obstacles Belal Muhammad had to overcome to become a UFC champion. Nothing was handed to him. Every step of the way, he had to earn it through resilience, discipline, and an unbreakable belief in himself.…

— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) July 2, 2026