LONDON – Belal Muhammad thinks he’ll be superior to Sean Brady in every area when they collide at UFC 280.
Muhammad (21-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) is set to meet undefeated rising welterweight Brady (15-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in a key divisional matchup on the Oct. 22 card, which takes place in Abu Dhabi and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
After campaigning for a fight with Khamzat Chimaev or any other name ranked above him, Muhammad has to fight backward this time against the surging Brady. It’s not what he ultimately wanted, but he’s able to spin it into an acceptable situation.
“I feel like it’s kind of like when you go to a drive through and you try to order Khamzat, but you end up getting Sean Brady,” Muhammad said. “I’m still going to eat the meal. I’m still hungry. I’m still trying to fight the best guys in the division and beat the best guys in the division, so I’m happy with it.”
Muhammad doesn’t think he’ll be fighting names ranked below him for long, though. He’s currently on an eight-fight unbeaten streak, and if he extends that to nine, he doesn’t see any way he’ll be denied.
“I think getting a dominant win over someone like him – he’s undefeated – if I think I’m going to be the champion, I have to beat all the best guys in front of me,” Muhammad said. “A lot of you are saying the same thing about Tom Aspinall, like ‘Why would he fight Curtis Blaydes? It’s the hardest fight in the division?’ He thinks he’s the best. And I think I’m the best, so I’m going to fight the hardest guys out there.”
Muhammad’s grappling has been his bread and butter in the UFC, but he thinks he’s shown there are more layers to his game in recent fights. Brady provides a heavy threat, but Muhammad is confident he’ll be able to deal with him in every area.
“I think I’m a better grappler than him,” Muhammad said. “I think I’m a better fighter than him. I think I’m better everywhere. I think it’s what I choose. My last couple fights I’ve been showing a different side every single fight, so this fight I’m going to show another different side of me.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.
Belal Muhammad: ‘I’m a better grappler’ than Sean Brady, will show ‘different side’ at UFC 280
