Belal Muhammad, the No.3-ranked welterweight, may not be facing Leon Edwards for the welterweight championship at UFC 294 as he had hoped, but fight fans can still catch him in action in Abu Dhabi. Muhammad is set to make his professional grappling debut on October 20th, the day before the UFC’s next pay-per-view event, at ADXC 1. His opponent for this special occasion will be Tarek Suleiman.

The announcement of this intriguing matchup came from Mohammed Jassim Al Hosani, who shared the news on Instagram, referring to it as “The People’s Main Event” during #ADShowdownWeek. Muhammad, known as ‘Remember the Name,’ is recognized as the most successful Arab fighter to compete in the UFC. Follow your favourite MMA star with attractive betting odds from Nextbet, one of the best MMA betting sites.

In a post on Instagram, Al Hosani stated: “The most successful Arab to ever compete in the UFC, No. 3 Ranked Welterweight Belal Muhammad makes his way to Abu Dhabi yet again, but this time to grapple inside the ADXC Cage.” Standing opposite him will be Tarek Suleiman, an Arab MMA pioneer and a beloved figure in both the UAE and the Arab world.

The matchup is scheduled to be a middleweight no-gi bout and will serve as the co-main event of ADXC 1, which boasts a headlining battle between Neiman Gracie and former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. While Belal Muhammad has expressed a strong desire to compete for the UFC welterweight title, this grappling debut allows him to stay active in the meantime.

Muhammad’s callout of Colby Covington

Belal Muhammad hasn’t been shy about his desire to face Colby Covington for the opportunity to challenge Leon Edwards for the welterweight title. Muhammad recently called out Covington once again, highlighting Covington’s extended time without a victory over an active UFC fighter.

Muhammad expressed his vision of a potential bout, stating: “This is exactly how it’ll go… I will literally walk him down the whole fight punching him in the face then he’ll get uncomfortable and shoot his weak double leg then I’ll stuff his head… he’ll pull guard I’ll push his face away then stand up… he’ll start butt scooting toward me then I’ll laugh and make him stand then after I’m bored punching him in the face I’ll head kick him then laugh over his unconscious body.”

Despite Muhammad’s persistent callouts, there hasn’t been a significant response from Colby Covington. Both fighters firmly believe they should be the next in line for a welterweight title shot, adding more intrigue to the division’s unfolding storyline. Get the latest updates from the world of MMA only on Nextbet Sports.