UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad feels Gilbert Burns will deal with a new level of challenges in their UFC 288 five-rounder.
Muhammad and Burns will square off in the UFC 288 co-main event this Saturday in Newark, NJ. The fight was booked just weeks ago and is a high-stakes matchup with title implications.
The short-notice timeline for the fight, especially for Burns, could play a factor in how their matchup unfolds. Burns fought just weeks ago at UFC 287.
Muhammad and Burns enter this weekend with a lot on the line, including a potential title shot next. But, Muhammad feels his competitive hunger is on another level compared to Burns.
Belal Muhammad: Gilbert Burns Facing “Starving Dog” At UFC 288
During his UFC 288 media day, Belal Muhammad alleged a big difference between him and Burns’ previous opponents.
“You’re going from fighting a guy like Masvidal, whose not as hungry as I am,” Belal Muhammad claimed. “He has all the money in the world. Now, you’re going against a starving dog, someone who wants it more than you do. A guy that’s willing to die in there, and how are you going to deal with that?”
Muhammad has felt undervalued by fans, pundits, and the UFC brass in recent months. He’s called for a title shot for months and will almost certainly clinch it with an impressive win over Burns.
Belal Muhammad silenced any previous doubters when he finished Sean Brady at UFC 280 last October. He hasn’t lost since Jan. 2019 and has defeated the likes of Vicente Luque and Stephen Thompson.
Muhammad is looking to cap off his remarkable run in the welterweight division with a win over a former title challenger. If his fight week comments are any indicator, he’s preparing to put on a show at UFC 288.