Palestine’s proudest son dares to be great

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” -Muhammad Ali.
This quote defines what Palestine’s proudest son is attempting to accomplish, daring to be great by taking a fight against one of the most avoided contenders in the UFC on three weeks’ notice.

Belal “Remember the name” Muhammad, a rising contender that grew up in the Southside of Chicago, with Palestinian blood running through his veins and enough bravery to be closer than ever to becoming the first-ever Palestinian UFC champion.

After turning pro in 2012, Muhammad was touted as a bright prospect, going on an undefeated streak that lasted four years, racking a record of 9-0 without losing a single round in the process.

Just to put on a stamp that the Southside-born was ready for the big leagues, he captured the Titan FC championship by overwhelming the former champ, Steve Carl, with a furious pace that resulted in a fourth-round knockout.

Muhammad was grateful yet far from content, having his sights set on taking the crown where it truly matters, in the biggest stage of all, the UFC.

After building an impressive resume, the UFC brass couldn’t deny Belal much longer, and just like that, following his Titan FC win, Muhammad gets the call to make his debut in the place where he truly belongs. However, the circumstances were far from what he had envisioned.

Hard-hitting UFC Welterweight contender Alan Jouban was set to face the rising Nordine Taleb, but due to an injury, Taleb was forced to withdraw from the fight, leaving Jouban in need of an opponent. Muhammad received the call to step up on short notice, but that wasn’t Muhammad’s biggest concern, not even close.

Being a devoted Muslim, Belal had been fasting in the month of Ramadan while he got the call. “Remember the name” wasn’t just a moniker he went by for the show. It was the driving purpose of leaving a legacy that will edge his name alongside the greats when it’s all set and done, and that was an opportunity to do so. And just like that, The pride of Palestine obliged.

Walking out under the brightest lights of all, draped in the flag of the holy land, Muhammad had all the odds stacked against him, but he wouldn’t have done it any different. The mindset of daring to be great was put to the test in the form of a darting left hand that dropped Muhammad in the opening minute of the fight, putting the Palestinian in a world of trouble.

Muhammad was down but not out, surviving the early onslaught with sheer heart and character that got him back to his feet, rallying on to get in a firefight that had the entire Vegas crowd eating out of his hands in an absolute barnburner.

The fight was over, undefeated no more. Although it was Belal’s first loss, the bout gave Palestine’s proudest son supreme confidence even though the outcome wasn’t as desired. Muhammad showed that under the darkest valleys of adversity, having all the circumstances far from ideal, he was still able to take the dangerous Jouban the distance with almost getting the finish in the closing seconds of the fight.

The Palastanian’s heart was on full display that night, accomplishing something far greater than the victory, making sure that the crowd did indeed “Remember the Name.”

Nine weeks following his memorable debut, referee Herb Dean was pulling Muhammad off from his opponent Augusto Montano, saving the Mexican from further punishment that the surging Palestinian was dishing out.

“The fast track builds the ego, and the hard track builds character.”

Muhammad’s journey was a rollercoaster, filled with ups and downs along the way, with the goal remaining the same throughout all the chaos, making history by becoming the first-ever Palestinian UFC champion.

After going through a murderer’s row, Muhammad managed to earn seven victories in his last eight outings, setting himself up for a clash against the unranked yet dangerous Brazillian Dhiego Lima.

It was the breakout performance that the Palestinian had been working towards, shattering his personal best record of 88 strikes landed in a single fight by making it 130 in a clinical showcase of creative striking and suffocating pressure that melted the Brazillian.

Although it was a dominant performance by the Palestinian, the brutalizing calf kicks from the Brazillian took a toll on Muhammad’s leg, forcing him to leave the octagon limping from the agony of Lima’s kicks.
The body was hurting, but the soul was still hungry, wanting more.

The 13th ranked Muhammad was riding high, winning eight out of his last nine. A step up was inevitable. However, what was about to unfold couldn’t have been scripted in anyone’s wildest dreams…

“Ice packs, plenty of them,” Muhammad said while resting his damaged leg on the couch just two days removed from his fight. The phone rang before the ice had melted, and it was his manager offering him a step up on three weeks notice in the main event slot against the most avoided contender in the division, the third-ranked Leon “Rocky” Edwards.

It was symbolic for the Palestinian, making his UFC debut a few years back on short notice against a dangerous contender with all circumstances being far from ideal. And now, his long-awaited title eliminator fight against a top-three contender came just hours following the war that left him with some bumps, bruises, and a compromised left leg.

Again, “Remember the Name” wasn’t just a nickname, so you best believe that Palestine’s proudest son accepted the fight.

On March 13th, the 13th ranked Belal Muhammad will be the man in the arena. Draped in the flag of the promised land, representing all Palistanian’s around the world in his first-ever main event slot against the third-ranked savvy striker, Leon “Rocky” Edwards, in a title eliminator fight where the winner will go on into a potential title showdown in late 2021.

Palestine, stand up. Your guy is daring to be great once again as he’s taking one more step into becoming the first-ever Palestinian UFC champion of the world. “Remember the Name” Belal Muhammad.