Belal Muhammad gives prediction for Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry ahead of UFC 310: "People overrate him"

Belal Muhammad, the UFC welterweight champion, recently gave his prediction on the upcoming bout between Ian Machado Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov, who will face each other in the co-main event of UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

Muhammad has been closely watching the build-up to this bout since the victor is expected to challenge him for the title. When recently asked who among the two he would like to face next, Muhammad replied that he could take on and beat either of them.

He also vouched for Garry and said the Irishman has more chance of winning this weekend because of his fighting style and IQ. During a recent appearance on the 16th annual World MMA Awards red carpet, Muhammad said (via MMA Junkie):

"I think Shavkat has more of that aura about him right. I think people overrate him. They put him on this big pedestal. I think a lot of people underrate Ian. They dont think he is really as good as his record shows …Honestly, I think it's gonna be Ian [who wins the fight]."

Check out Belal Muhammad's comments below (0:30):

'Remember the Name' was originally scheduled to face Rakhmonov but had to pull off the fight because of a bone infection. However, he has started training already and hopes to be back next year by summer.

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A detailed look at Belal Muhammad's bone infection which caused him to pull out of UFC 310

Belal Muhammad pulled out of his previously scheduled fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 because of a bone infection.

Recently, Muhammad disclosed in an interview with MMA Junkie's Nolan King that he had to spend three weeks in the hospital due to the infection and that the doctor had once suggested amputating his foot to prevent the infection from becoming worse, which was devastating.

He said:

"So it wasn’t like, people are like, ‘Oh, you got a broken toe.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, if it was a toe, I don’t… I had a broken toe for over a year and then that toe got infected because of that. So that it went directly into the bone, and it was climbing up the foot.’ So he’s like, ‘Bro, get your foot amputated.’ For me it was heartbreaking, obviously.”