Belal Muhammad: Shavkat Rakhmonov ‘deserves’ next title shot but no guarantee he gets it

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Belal Muhammad spent years chasing the biggest and best possible competition as he sought to become a UFC champion but now that he’s got the title, the target sits squarely on his back and he really doesn’t need to go after anybody.

That said, the ideal situation for his first title defense was going up against undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who had been painted as the boogeyman of the division with a dominant run through the ranks with a...