The performance that Belal Muhammad displayed at UFC 304 against Leon Edwards was truly stupefying. Not many believed that an underdog had the power to overthrow a champion who defeated a fighter like Kamaru Usman twice. But that was indeed the reality.
Muhammad snatched the welterweight championship belt and gave the world another reason to remember his name. In his moment of pride, the Palestinian-American expressed his joy on social media as his countrymen began celebrating his phenomenal win on the streets of Manchester.
But the celebrations were taken a notch higher as the UFC play-by-play commentator, Jon Anik, joined the Palestinian fans and voiced his praise on Instagram. Let’s see what Anik had to say.
Jon Anik joins Belal Muhammad’s countrymen to celebrate his win
Anik took to IG and expressed the joy and excitement he went through as Muhammad faced Edwards through the 5 whole rounds. But he wasn’t oblivious to the champ’s struggles. Anik wrote, “Really difficult day for Belal Muhammad’s detractors, I reckon! I’ve always said the best part of this job is witnessing a fighter break through, complete their mission as UFC champion, and effectively change their life forever. This man’s path was more arduous than most, so this feels particularly special.”
The comment continued, “We signed Belal to the @anikflorianpod family when he was unranked. It has been downright incredible to watch this man rise from a 1-2 start in the Octagon, to top-flight contender, to champion of the world. Largely, he does everything the right way and his whole team is dripping with class/worth rooting for. And new @bullyb170 (Belal Muhammad).” This was followed by a crown emoji.
‘Remember The Name’ sent shockwaves through the world of mixed martial arts as he rag-dolled the former welterweight champ at UFC 304. Despite being unable to finish the fight, Muhammad earned the fighting community’s respect for defeating a hardened fighter like ‘Rocky’. But like he said previously, his win was his country’s win. After all, he did become the first-ever Palestinian champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Following Belal Muhammad’s victory, fight fans rallied on the streets donning the Palestinian flag and parading to celebrate the outcome of UFC 304. The fans congratulated him as he popped out of the sunroof of his car and joined the parade. Needless to say, the act filled Muhammad’s heart with immense pride. He took to Instagram to share the moment with his fans all over the globe and wrote, “My city now.” But little did he know that he would receive praise from one of the well-known voices of the UFC.
If you think winning is the only way Muhammad can help his war-torn country, then you’re in for a treat. The Palestinian fighter has collaborated with an apparel brand that highlights him in traditional keffiyeh designs and strong statements. And 50% of the proceedings go straight to the PCRF.
The success story of ‘Remember The Name’ and ‘Peace Collective’
Belal Muhammad has come forth with a humanitarian organization, P/C x Belal Muhammad, that runs with a prime motive to support the children stranded in war-struck Palestine. With half of the proceedings forwarded to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, the organization has helped quite a lot of children. In a recent talk for the promotion of the brand, Muhammad revealed that he was able to unite two brothers, and brought a father and son to the US soil.
However, he was on the verge of breaking down as he thought of the children he wasn’t able to reach. Muhammad said, “It honestly like breaks my heart, because now that he has opportunity, I know that there’s millions of kids in Palestine that don’t have that opportunity.” Nevertheless, with his win dedicated to his family and country, the welterweight champion is definitely going to help a few more children and secure their future.