Belal Muhammad explains why he took UFC 288 fight against Gilbert Burns on short notice, vows to steal Colby Covington’s title shot
Belal Muhammad didn’t hesitate to take a short notice fight against Gilbert Burns at UFC 288.
Muhammad was midway through Ramadan when he got a call to face Burns at UFC 288 to serve as the co-main event after Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush was off. Yet, Muhammad had no problem in taking the fight as he knows it is a big opportunity for him,
“You know me: I love to fight. I was excited for the opportunity, it was a huge opportunity, and I just couldn’t say no. Got right back to work, called my coaches, called my team. We all said let’s do it. And I’m ready,” Muhammad said at UFC 288 media day.
Belal Muhammad knows Gilbert Burns is coming off a win over Jorge Masvidal and is still in fight shape but warns the Brazilian he is nothing like Masvidal.
Instead, Muhammad is confident he has all the tools to not only beat Burns but will finish him to steal Colby Covington’s title shot and face Leon Edwards in October in Abu Dhabi.
“I think if I put on a great performance this weekend and get a tremendous finish or something – they’re going to Abu Dhabi. You think they’re gonna have Leon fight Colby in Abu Dhabi?” Muhammad said. “No, they’re gonna have me fight in Abu Dhabi. It’ll be like a dream come true, and I think that’ll be how the story is supposed to be written. I’ve just got to do my work this weekend, and I don’t really care what nothing else is, because I know my next fight is gonna be for the belt.”
As of right now, the UFC not Dana White has confirmed that the winner of Muhammad-Burns at UFC 288 gets the next title shot. But Muhammad is confident he can get the next title shot given he stepped up on short notice and is on a lengthy win streak.
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