Belal Muhammad is ranked as a better UFC champion than most – all without a single defending defense.
In the past three decades, the UFC Welterweight Division has crowned some of the most legendary champions of the sport from Matt Hughes to Georges St-Pierre to Kamaru Usman.
12 hunters have held the undisputed title, such as BJ Penn, Johny Hendricks, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley and now, Belal Muhammad.
Unbeaten in his last 11 fights, 'Remember the name' is set to defend the Welterweight belt in the main event of UFC 315 against Jack della Maddalena, who received 'high praise' from Chael Sonnen prior to Fight Night.
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Chael Sonnen claims that Belal Muhammad is the third best good weight in the history of UFC
Muhammad conducts his second UFC title fight in 36 years old after the decisiveness of Leon Edwards last summer at UFC 304.
The inhabitant of Chicago has been 14-1 (1 AD) since a KO loss for Vicente Luque with victories over Luque, Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, Demian Maia, Gilbert Burns and the current #1-contender Sean Brady.
Although he may not be so exciting from a champion like Robbie Lawler (18 decision wins under his belt), Muhammad is ranked high under the GSP and Usman as the greatest welter weights ever.
At least, how former UFC title -ender Chael Sonnen sees it.
'[Muhammad] Is the third best champion of good weight of the UFC of all time, “said Sonnen on Good Guy / Bad Guy.
“That's a lot of praise.
“The only person you could ever argue with St-Pierre and not losing credibility is Kamaru Usman. Kamaru was a big champion.
“So now I place in the same category,” said Sonnen.
Chael Sonnen credit Belal Muhammad about defending champions
Georges St-Pierre and Kamaru Usman are the consensus Top-2 Welterweights of all time with 14 title defense between them.
Other welterweight champions are Pat Miletich, Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley and Leon Edwards, all of whom had several title defenses, but did not get on the top-3 welterweight list of Sonen.
The 24-3 Muhammad still has to defend the title, but the current champion had a longer road to gold than most, and had to win nine fights in a row for a title chance.
“Look, he gets the honor for me,” Sonen said about mentioning Mohammed as the third best good weight of all time.
“Returning to that Sean Brady fight where they investigated him in Abu Dhabi to throw him off his track …
“He gets the honor that I take that walk against Leon, take my finger at the eye, get up, even if it is one [no contest]your way back to that ladder … “
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