Belal Muhammad, the welterweight contender of the UFC, is a big supporter of the Palestinian cause. He has been vocal about it even before his entry to the promotion. His views recently come across the crossroads of the middleweight champion of the UFC.
Sean Strickland, the middleweight champion in the UFC, recently reacted to Belal Muhammad’s post on X (Formerly Twitter). Strickland and Muhammad already have an existing beef stemming from a social media video that Strickland took.
Sean Strickland blasts Belal Muhammad
MMA fighters Sean Strickland and Belal Muhammad have clashed over their views on the Israel-Palestine issue. On the social media platform X, Muhammad has shared information about the Israel-Palestine conflict, recently urging his followers to “Pray for Palestine.” with a Palestinian flag.
However, UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland has taken issue with Muhammad’s political stance. Strickland pointed out that Muhammad was born and raised in America, implying he should abstain from commenting on the conflict. Strickland reposted the comment with the tagline “Belal, you were born in America, you live in America just shut the fuk up.”
‘Tarzan’ explained his stance on the ongoing conflict by offering his perspective on the issue. Strickland appears to associate the Palestinian cause with terrorism and highlighted the recent clash between Hamas and Israeli forces, which resulted in casualties on both sides. This dispute brings to the forefront the longstanding debate about the role athletes play beyond their sport.
Views within the MMA community remain polarized. Some praised Muhammad for his strong beliefs and support for Palestine, while others felt that Strickland’s perspective has merit. Regardless of where one stands, the incident underscores a central theme in modern sports: the intersection of athletics and global politics.
Belal Muhammad steps up to support Palestine
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has intensified and is witnessing some of the deadliest clashes in recent times. Israeli forces and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, are deeply embroiled, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
Belal Muhammad a.k.a ‘Remember The Name,’ too was closely watching the crisis from the US. As a form of solidarity, the number 3 ranked welterweight took it to X to offer support. Muhammad, who has been a vocal supporter of Palestine, posted on X urging people to pray for Palestine. previously showcased the Palestinian flag during his UFC walkouts, a practice that was halted due to a recent ban which is now lifted.
Muhammad most recently fought at UFC 285, earning a 5-round unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Burns. Currently, on a 10-fight unbeaten streak, the Chicago native does not have an official fight booked. From Dana White’s insinuation, it was presumed that he would be fighting Kamaru Usman. However, Muhammad is clamoring for a title shot and only wishes to fight Usman, only if offered championship money.
What do you think of the stance of Sean Strickland and Belal Muhammad on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Comment below!
