Title fight backup Belal Muhammad breaks down key UFC 296 welterweight matchups

UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad has his role for UFC 296, and his services may or may not be required on fight night.

Muhammad will be the backup for the main event welterweight title fight between champ Leon Edwards and challenger Colby Covington.

In addition to the main event, two other key welterweight matchups are on the card, and Muhammad has been keeping a close eye on all of his divisional peers. Shavkat Rakhmonov takes on Stephen Thompson and Vicente Luque faces Ian Machado Garry on the main card.

Muhammad is likely to find himself watching all of these bouts unfold from cageside as the services of a backup fighter have yet to be needed in a UFC event. However, he has studied his peers closely. Recently, Muhammad gave MMA Junkie his thoughts on all of the big matchups in his division going down at the final event of the year.

Check out the No. 1 contender in waiting’s thoughts below as he puts on his analyst hat ahead of UFC 296.