TLDR
- Former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad lost to Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision at UFC Qatar on Saturday
- This marks Muhammad’s first back-to-back losses in his 13-year career after losing his title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May
- Garry won all three rounds on two judges’ scorecards and successfully defended Muhammad’s seven takedown attempts
- Muhammad became UFC champion in July 2024 after defeating Leon Edwards at UFC 304, ending a six-year unbeaten streak
- The former champion posted on social media that he and his team “have work to do” following the defeat
Former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad suffered his second consecutive defeat on Saturday at UFC Qatar. Muhammad lost to Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision in the co-main event.
The loss marks a first for Muhammad in his 13-year professional career. He had never experienced back-to-back defeats until now.
Muhammad entered the bout ranked No. 2 in the welterweight division. He was hoping to bounce back from losing his title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May.
Garry dominated the fight across all three rounds. Two judges scored all three rounds in favor of the Irish fighter.
The former champion struggled to implement his wrestling game plan. Muhammad attempted seven takedowns but failed to secure any of them.
This wrestling issue has plagued Muhammad in both recent losses. Against Della Maddalena, he secured only three of nine takedown attempts.
Wrestling Woes Continue
Muhammad’s control time against Garry was limited to 3 minutes and 35 seconds. He landed zero strikes on the ground during the entire fight.
Garry’s defensive footwork and diverse kicking arsenal kept Muhammad at bay. The Irishman successfully prevented Muhammad from mixing in his grappling throughout the contest.
Without his wrestling working effectively, Muhammad was forced to stand and trade. He had some success on the feet but not enough to win rounds.
The defeat comes just one week after Muhammad watched his former teammate Islam Makhachev defeat Della Maddalena. Makhachev won the welterweight title at UFC 322.
Path to the Title
Muhammad captured the UFC welterweight championship at UFC 304 in July 2024. He defeated then-champion Leon Edwards via unanimous decision.
The victory made Muhammad the first UFC champion of Palestinian descent. His title win capped off a 10-fight winning streak.
Muhammad had been unbeaten for six years before losing to Della Maddalena. That title defense was considered one of the best fights of 2025.
On Sunday, Muhammad addressed the loss on Instagram. He thanked the Doha crowd and his supporters for standing by him.
“We couldn’t get it done,” Muhammad wrote. “Thank you to my team and family and friends that are with me no matter what.”
He ended his statement with determination for the future. “We have work to do,” the former champion said.
