Just days before his first title defense at UFC 315, reigning welterweight champion Belal Muhammad found himself in an unexpected war of words with the ever-controversial Khamzat Chimaev.
On May 10 in Montreal, Belal will face a career-defining challenge against Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena in a highly anticipated main event. But before stepping into the cage, sparks have already started to fly outside it.
Chimaev, never one to shy away from mind games, fired off a provoking message on social media:“Belal, where are you going, little pony?”
bullyb170 куда ты лезешь пони 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/i4HMuSSavJ
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) April 29, 2025
Belal didn’t take the bait emotionally. Instead, he clapped back with wit—posting a photo of himself squaring off with Chimaev while wearing a shirt bearing both of their faces, captioned:“I’m moving up to middleweight.”
Goin to middleweight https://t.co/u4QzXQb3iP pic.twitter.com/owTlYl8HHH
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 29, 2025
His playful comeback also served as a reminder: the two fighters are currently on different paths. While Chimaev is now competing at middleweight, Belal remains the king of the 170-pound division.
This isn’t the first time fans have craved a showdown between the two. But Chimaev’s move up in weight—and recent talks of an interim title bout—have pushed that potential clash into uncertainty.
Still, Belal’s focus remains crystal clear: defeat Della Maddalena in Montreal and prove he’s not just a titleholder, but a dominant force. As for Chimaev, the rising tension may one day explode inside the Octagon—if the UFC chooses to make it happen.
