Belal Muhammad Open to Mike Malott Fight

Former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad said in a YouTube video after UFC Edmonton that he would accept a fight with Mike Malott. Malott knocked out Joaquin Buckley with a knee in the event’s main event, and Muhammad said the matchup makes sense as he looks for his next opponent.

Muhammad Sees Malott as a Route Back

Muhammad, 24-6 with one no contest, said he wants to fight Kamaru Usman but will not wait if that bout does not come together. Malott is on a five-fight winning streak, and Muhammad said a win over him could help put him back in the welterweight mix and remind people of his standing in the division.

Muhammad added that he would say yes to Malott if Usman is not ready to fight. He left the next move to the UFC, saying the promotion would decide what it wants to do with the matchup.

Muhammad won the welterweight title by defeating Leon Edwards in July 2024. He lost the belt to Jack Della Maddalena the following May, then suffered losses to Ian Machado Garry and Gabriel Bonfim. He is now on a three-fight losing streak.

Malott’s Winning Run and Expected Return

Malott’s win over Buckley followed victories against Kevin Holland and Gilbert Burns. He has an 8-1 record in the UFC and is ranked 10th in the promotion’s official welterweight rankings, with Muhammad at No. 7. In Meta’s AI rankings, Muhammad is seventh and Malott eighth.

Malott’s next appearance is widely expected to be at UFC 336 in Toronto on Jan. 30, 2027. The source does not confirm an opponent for that event, and Muhammad’s offer does not establish that the two have been matched.