8 Years and 17 Fights Later, Belal Muhammad Earns Longest Title Path in Welterweight History
Winning UFC gold is often considered the pinnacle of a fighter’s career. Each year, numerous new prospects enter the event with the dream of being crowned “best fighter in the world” in their weight class.
While predicting who will make it to title contention is challenging, promising skills typically become evident in a fighter’s early bouts. Rising stars generally rise through the ranks quickly and earn a title shot in a relatively short time.
For instance, Conor McGregor took just two years to fight Chad Mendes for the Interim Featherweight Championship at UFC 189. Eddie Alvarez, whom McGregor would later dethrone as Lightweight champion, also secured his title around the same timeframe.
McGregor Faceoff Against Brimage During UFC Debut
On average, fighters usually require 5 to 6 fights before challenging for the belt. However, as the UFC roster expands, this number is gradually increasing.
UFC Cinderella Stories: Belal Muhammad
Despite the excitement of winning gold, many fighters face challenges and fall short of the title, becoming known as “gatekeepers”—athletes who are consistently on the brink of becoming champions but fail to capitalize on their opportunities.
Among these gatekeepers, a select few break the mold and win titles later in their careers. For example, Robbie Lawler made his UFC debut at UFC 37 in 2002 but only won the Welterweight title a decade later at UFC 181 in 2014*. Similarly, Rafael dos Anjos took around seven years to dethrone Anthony Pettis and become the first Brazilian Lightweight champion.
This week, Belal Muhammad not only claimed the Welterweight title but also set a record for the longest time from UFC debut to champion in this weight class.
Belal Muhammad Flipping The Division On Its Head
Muhammad made his debut at UFC Fight Night 90 on July 7, 2016, where he lost his first fight to Alan Jouban. Despite a rocky start, going 1-2 in his first three fights, Muhammad’s career took a turn for the better. After a single loss to Geoff Neal in 2019, he went undefeated in his next 10 fights, culminating in his title win this week.
With a total of 17 UFC fights, Belal Muhammad now boasts the longest and most challenging path to the title in Welterweight history. In comparison to all weight classes, he ranks 5th for the longest path to the title, behind Rafael dos Anjos (18 fights), Dustin Poirier (22 fights), Michael Bisping (26 fights), and Charles Oliveira (28 fights).
*Note: Lawler’s title win came after leaving the UFC in 2004 and returning in 2013.
