As UFC 315 approaches, Belal Muhammad‘s comeback fight has taken on a completely new dimension—and it has little to do with his opponent, Jack Della Maddalena. While fans were aware of his withdrawal from UFC 310 due to an infection, Chael Sonnen just revealed the horrifying truth about it. On the most recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy, ‘The American Gangster’ revealed that Belal Muhammad “almost died” after battling a severe infection in his toe. It was a far more serious scenario than anyone realized at the time, and his struggle for survival nearly cost him everything.
Chael Sonnen did not mince words. “Belal is too tough, and he’s too proud of a man to come out and say this—because he’d feel like he’s making an excuse,” he said. “But I think he’d just be telling the story. When Belal was released from the hospital, which was far more serious than what was revealed to the audience, Belal almost died through an infection in his toe. It was a big deal.” Sonnen went on to say that after being discharged, Muhammad’s initial reaction was to push himself physically, despite the toll the virus had put on him. He dropped down and completed five push-ups. Only five push-ups after months of medical issues. That moment, for ‘The American Gangster,’ symbolizes just how far the welterweight champion has had to come to make this comeback possible.
He said, “I understand that this was about seven months ago, but to come from a deficit of five push-ups to being the baddest man walking the earth—for anybody—would be monumental to do in only seven months.” The infection, caused by a broken toe that had been lingering for almost a year, was far worse than anyone had anticipated. ‘Remember The Name’ was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection that threatened to spread throughout his foot and possibly lead to amputation. ‘Remember The Name’ spent three weeks in the hospital and had six weeks of intravenous antibiotics. Muhammad considered amputating the infected toe merely to get back into the cage, but he eventually listened to physicians and heeded their advice to avoid taking such harsh measures.
Belal Muhammad during the ceremonial weigh-ins during the UFC 304 event at Co-op Etihad Campus, SportCity, England on the 26 July 2024. Copyright: xAndyxRowlandx PMI-6349-0003
Now, as he prepares to defend his welterweight title at UFC 315, the stakes are far higher than simply defending a throne. Belal Muhammad is returning not only to retrieve his title, but his fight with Jack Della Maddalena is about proving to himself that he can overcome more than just opponents inside the Octagon. But while he must be proud of the way he has gotten his health back, he is equally dissatisfied with having Ian Machado Garry as the backup for his fight.
Belal Muhammad questions Ian Machado Garry’s backup role
After experiencing a near-death experience and clawing his way back into fighting shape, Belal Muhammad is finally ready to defend the title he nearly lost to infection rather than an opponent. While there is pride in reclaiming what is rightfully his, there is also resentment, specifically with Ian Machado Garry being named the official backup for UFC 315. ‘Remember The Name’ considers it not only a case of poor judgment but also outright offensive. Coming off a battle in which he was obviously fatigued in the final round, Garry’s “plan B” status does not sit well with a man who has had to work hard for every inch of his comeback.
“I had no knowledge of it,” Belal Muhammad stated when questioned about Garry taking over as backup. To him, Garry’s performance against Carlos Prates, while technically a win, was not the type of performance that should propel someone into the title picture. ‘The Future’ appeared roughed up in the final round, and ‘Remember The Name’ openly doubted Garry’s ability to make weight again in time. Furthermore, Muhammad was sure that neither he nor Della Maddalena would withdraw, making Garry’s presence appear more like a marketing ploy than a genuine contingency. “Is it even worth it?” he questioned, more rhetorical than curious.
At its core, Belal Muhammad views Garry’s move for what it is: an attempt to throw himself into the title race amid a period of uncertainty in the division. With Shavkat Rakhmonov out indefinitely and other names like Sean Brady, Kamaru Usman, and even Islam Makhachev floating around, the welterweight picture remains as unpredictable as ever. While Ian Garry may view this as his opportunity, ‘Remember The Name’ is skeptical that the UFC sees it the same way. What do you think? Do you like the UFC’s move to have Ian Garry as the backup? Let us know in the comments.
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