Belal Muhammad claps back at Shavkat Rakhmonov over recent comments, pitches a No. 1 contender fight

Belal Muhammad suggests Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Kamaru Usman for No. 1 contender

In a recent tweet, Muhammad appeared to respond to Rakhmonov’s criticism and ducking allegations.

Inactive? Lol I’m still on trial and Shavkat hasn’t fought since 2023 I think Shavkat and usman should fight to find the real number one contender pic.twitter.com/7fKYMZsqbl

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) August 30, 2024

“Inactive? Lol I’m still on trial and Shavkat hasn’t fought since 2023,” Muhammad tweeted Friday. “I think Shavkat and [Kamaru] Usman should fight to find the real number one contender.”

Muhammad has gone back-and-forth with former titleholder Kamaru Usman in recent weeks. Muhammad’s latest trolling attempt featured an AI-generated song, which many felt was an attempt at luring Usman into a matchup.

Usman hasn’t fought since a middleweight loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 last year. He’s targeting his Octagon return for welterweight against another top contender.

As of this writing, Rakhmonov hasn’t responded to Muhammad’s latest comments. He hasn’t fought since UFC 296 against Thompson; earning a second-round submission victory.

A timeline for Muhammad’s first title defense remains uncertain, although Rakhmonov is a likely top choice for his next opponent. In the meantime, the champion seems content with letting Rakhmonov and Usman figure out who should be next for a shot at the belt.