Belal Muhammad Became the first Palestinian fighter to win the UFC title
Belal Muhammad has created a record in martial arts history, as he is the first Palestinian MMA fighter to win the UFC title, defeating the English champion Leon Edwards in the welterweight division.
The 36-year-old American fighter, born in Chicago, Illinois, to Palestinian immigrants, won by five-round unanimous decision UFC 304 on Saturday.
Therefore, Muhammad’s victory not only elevated his career grades but also boosted the achievement level of the Palestinian community. Muhammad, now crowned in sweat and blood from his face and mouth guard, lowered, hunched over, and knelt as soon as the buzzer rang to signal the end of the fight. This win took his record for the number of fights without a loss to 11, the last defeat Elbaz suffered in 2019.
This was before he was to compete in Manchester, England; Muhammad told me that it is not only about him; it is about them, the Palestinians and the people in Gaza. He has not been shy of expressing his Palestinian genes and has made it his point to use the position that he finds himself in to fight for the Palestinian issue. Until Saturday’s match, he was holding the Palestinian flag and voicing his opinion on the conflict in Gaza.
Muhammad and Edwards were engaged in a match that ended in no-contest in 2021, and the about left both men keen to engage again. Since then, both have been on very good sequences of wins and have not looked back since then. At the time of the shooting, Edwards stood undefeated in his last four bouts, with a win over Kamaru Usman, where he took the welterweight strap and two successful title defences. On the other hand, Muhammad accumulated victories and eventually emerged victorious against Edwards.
Muhammad has been very vocal about his Palestinian origin ever since he began his professional basketball career. He comes in the ring to the tune “Dammi Falesteeni (My Blood is Palestine)” by Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf, and his walk-out music is the same. In 2021, Muhammad mentioned that, given that he is a popular fighter, he had assumed the role of being, to some extent, a spokesperson for the oppressed.
“There are not many Palestinians that compete at such a high level and have a chance to bear the flag,” Muhammad said. “And now, especially in these circumstances, one has to do it even more. ”
But his determination to create awareness of Palestine seems not to be shaken at all. “Now I have a voice for people that don’t have a voice, for people that the world wants you to forget about. So, if I keep shining a light on that, raising their morale and hearts, I’m going to do whatever I can,” he added.
Considering the life story of Muhammad, who went from Chicago to the UFC champion, it is possible to consider him an example of the determination of a person fighting for his dream. He succeeded by inspiring other fighters who want to participate in The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs Team Koscheck and inspiring Palestinians worldwide. By bending the arms of sports and demanding his people’s rights from the dictator, Muhammad has been an example of how sports play social and political justice.
This is quite profound in a sport where individualism mostly overrides general interests, thanks to Muhammad. Altogether, the victory in the octagon is accompanied by the fight for the rights of the Palestinian population, which only adds to its meaning.
While Muhammad will continue his championship campaigns and develop his career further, his legacy will not remain merely in the octagon. Still, it would further the story of marginalised people’s triumph in sports with an emphasis on justice.
