Belal Muhammad’s UFC 315 setback: What’s next for the former welterweight champion?

Belal Muhammad’s first defense of his welterweight title didn’t go the way he’d hoped. In the main event of UFC 315, Muhammad lost his belt to Jack Della Maddalena after five grueling rounds. All three judges gave the win to Della Maddalena, with two of them scoring it 48-47. It was a tough night for the reigning champ, but true to form, Muhammad took the loss in stride, keeping his head up and already looking ahead.After the fight, Belal Muhammad didn’t waste any time addressing the loss.He took to social media, posting a simple message: “Allah’s plan is the best plan. Alhamdillah for everything. Thank you to all my supporters. I been here before and I’ll be back.”It wasn’t the first time Muhammad had faced a setback in his career. His last loss came more than six years ago to Geoff Neal, and since then, he’d been on a tear with 11 straight fights without a defeat. The streak, including his dominant win over Leon Edwards to capture the title, made this loss sting a little more, but Muhammad’s mindset has always been about moving forward. It’s clear he’s not going to let this one defeat define him.So, what’s next for the former champ? With no immediate rematch in sight—especially given lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s potential move to welterweight—the options are wide open.Shavkat Rakhmonov, who was supposed to face Muhammad at UFC 310 before a foot injury sidelined him, is still lurking as a top contender. Rakhmonov’s undefeated record and dominant performances have made him a fan favorite for a title shot. But there are also other interesting names out there, like Ian Machado Garry and Sean Brady. Brady, of course, has already lost to Muhammad, but a rematch could still be intriguing.The results of upcoming fights might also help shape Muhammad’s next move. The UFC Vegas 106 headliner between Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales could be a key fight, and the June 14 matchup between former champion Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley could further complicate the welterweight picture.At the end of the day, this loss doesn’t seem like it’s going to knock Muhammad off his path. With everything he’s been through in his career, setbacks aren’t new to him. He’s shown time and again that he can bounce back and learn from the tough moments.Also Read: Aiemann Zahabi reveals why he accepted Jose Aldo fight at featherweight for UFC 315It’s easy to see Muhammad coming back with even more fire, whether that means facing one of the challengers mentioned above or taking on someone else further down the line. One thing’s for sure—his journey’s far from over, and fans will be excited to see what’s next for Belal Mohammad