Belal Muhammad Becomes First Palestinian UFC Welterweight Champion

After emerging victorious over British-Jamaican Leon Edwards, Palestinian-American Belal Muhammad has become the new UFC welterweight champion. Muhammad is the first Palestinian to earn a UFC champion title.

Taking place on Edwards’ home turf in Manchester, this most recent match comes three years after a match of no-contest between the two fighters in 2021, when Edwards inadvertently poked Muhammad in the eye. Edwards won the UFC Champion title from Nigerian-American Kamaru Usman two summers ago, and defended it twice before losing it to Muhammad.

After being announced the champion, Muhammad dedicated his winning fight to his family, his people and to Palestine.