Belal Muhammad

Even if it's not hard sparring, light sparring, just enough to see everything and have my reaction time. And I think that helps a lot with the way I've been fighting lately.

Even if it's not hard sparring, light sparring, just enough to see everything and have my reaction time. And I think that helps a lot with the way I've been fighting lately.

That was the hardest part, right? The lead up because it was after beating Gilbert, they were like, you're guaranteed next. And then you're like, when is it happening? They're like, well, Colby has to fight first. So then I'm sitting there and playing the waiting game. And then they offered me Usman. They're like, well, you know, if you don't want to wait, we can give you Usman.

That was the hardest part, right? The lead up because it was after beating Gilbert, they were like, you're guaranteed next. And then you're like, when is it happening? They're like, well, Colby has to fight first. So then I'm sitting there and playing the waiting game. And then they offered me Usman. They're like, well, you know, if you don't want to wait, we can give you Usman.

That was the hardest part, right? The lead up because it was after beating Gilbert, they were like, you're guaranteed next. And then you're like, when is it happening? They're like, well, Colby has to fight first. So then I'm sitting there and playing the waiting game. And then they offered me Usman. They're like, well, you know, if you don't want to wait, we can give you Usman.

So we were at talks with Usman. And then Usman ended up fighting Hamza on short notice. So then I was like, all right, well, there's nothing else they can put in front of me. It's going to be me against the winner of Kobe and Leon. Then that fight happens. And then Leon's trying to brush it off like crazy. Nah, there's still other guys I could look at and see who's next.

So we were at talks with Usman. And then Usman ended up fighting Hamza on short notice. So then I was like, all right, well, there's nothing else they can put in front of me. It's going to be me against the winner of Kobe and Leon. Then that fight happens. And then Leon's trying to brush it off like crazy. Nah, there's still other guys I could look at and see who's next.

So we were at talks with Usman. And then Usman ended up fighting Hamza on short notice. So then I was like, all right, well, there's nothing else they can put in front of me. It's going to be me against the winner of Kobe and Leon. Then that fight happens. And then Leon's trying to brush it off like crazy. Nah, there's still other guys I could look at and see who's next.

And he even brought up Gilbert Burns. And I'm like, bro, I just beat Gilbert Burns. So I'm sitting there in limbo. Like, what's happening? I'm calling my manager every day. And Ali's my manager. And he's like, bro, trust me. Dana's not going to go against his word. He's going to give you the shot. He's going to give you the shot. And then all of a sudden, 300 comes up.

And he even brought up Gilbert Burns. And I'm like, bro, I just beat Gilbert Burns. So I'm sitting there in limbo. Like, what's happening? I'm calling my manager every day. And Ali's my manager. And he's like, bro, trust me. Dana's not going to go against his word. He's going to give you the shot. He's going to give you the shot. And then all of a sudden, 300 comes up.

And he even brought up Gilbert Burns. And I'm like, bro, I just beat Gilbert Burns. So I'm sitting there in limbo. Like, what's happening? I'm calling my manager every day. And Ali's my manager. And he's like, bro, trust me. Dana's not going to go against his word. He's going to give you the shot. He's going to give you the shot. And then all of a sudden, 300 comes up.

And I'm like, oh, so we're probably going to be 300. And then they say, oh, they offered to fight to three other guys. And I was one of those guys. So then, like... I'm sitting there like, bro, wait. No way am I about to get screwed right now. Are they going to give it to somebody else?

And I'm like, oh, so we're probably going to be 300. And then they say, oh, they offered to fight to three other guys. And I was one of those guys. So then, like... I'm sitting there like, bro, wait. No way am I about to get screwed right now. Are they going to give it to somebody else?

And I'm like, oh, so we're probably going to be 300. And then they say, oh, they offered to fight to three other guys. And I was one of those guys. So then, like... I'm sitting there like, bro, wait. No way am I about to get screwed right now. Are they going to give it to somebody else?

For me, it was just – I put it out there. I said if they really wanted Leon to fight there, they would have put me on there because I said yes. They said they asked Islam. They said they asked Shavka. They said they asked Hamza. And they all said no because of Ramadan. But I fought multiple times during Ramadan. So for me, I'm like if they really wanted Leon – They could have had him with me.

For me, it was just – I put it out there. I said if they really wanted Leon to fight there, they would have put me on there because I said yes. They said they asked Islam. They said they asked Shavka. They said they asked Hamza. And they all said no because of Ramadan. But I fought multiple times during Ramadan. So for me, I'm like if they really wanted Leon – They could have had him with me.

For me, it was just – I put it out there. I said if they really wanted Leon to fight there, they would have put me on there because I said yes. They said they asked Islam. They said they asked Shavka. They said they asked Hamza. And they all said no because of Ramadan. But I fought multiple times during Ramadan. So for me, I'm like if they really wanted Leon – They could have had him with me.

But I think they just wanted to have that shock factor with 300, where it's like, oh, double champ status for Islam. Or Hamzat's obviously a huge star. He comes back down. So I think they just wanted that. And Leon's not a promoter. He doesn't really promote his fights in general. Obviously, he's a great fighter. But for 300, I think they want somebody that's going to try to push the event.

But I think they just wanted to have that shock factor with 300, where it's like, oh, double champ status for Islam. Or Hamzat's obviously a huge star. He comes back down. So I think they just wanted that. And Leon's not a promoter. He doesn't really promote his fights in general. Obviously, he's a great fighter. But for 300, I think they want somebody that's going to try to push the event.

But I think they just wanted to have that shock factor with 300, where it's like, oh, double champ status for Islam. Or Hamzat's obviously a huge star. He comes back down. So I think they just wanted that. And Leon's not a promoter. He doesn't really promote his fights in general. Obviously, he's a great fighter. But for 300, I think they want somebody that's going to try to push the event.