UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad shared his insights on the upcoming UFC on ESPN 66 main event.
In the headline bout at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., Ian Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) will face off against Carlos Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) this Saturday. Machado Garry is looking to bounce back from his first loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, while Prates has been on a knockout spree in the UFC.
“Ian is a strategic fighter. His experience from the Rakhmonov fight will serve him well against Prates. I believe he will utilize his reach advantage and movement to secure the win,” Muhammad shared with MMA Junkie.
Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) is set to defend his title against Jack Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the UFC 315 main event at Bell Centre in Montreal. Della Maddalena steps in after Rakhmonov’s injury.
If Muhammad emerges victorious, he aims to reschedule the Rakhmonov fight. However, he acknowledges other potential matchups, including standout performances from Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley.
“For me, Rakhmonov is the priority unless he’s sidelined for an extended period. Brady’s recent win over Leon Edwards was impressive, and Buckley’s ambition to face Kamaru Usman adds intrigue to the division,” Muhammad explained.