Belal Muhammad will face Demian Maia at UFC 263, and the bout is in the works for June 12.
The fight news was first announced by ESPN. Muhammad endured a fight-ending eye-poke against Leon Edwards in March. Consequently, the bout was ruled a no-contest and Muhammad is recovering from the injury.
Per sources, Demian Maia (@demianmaia) vs. Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170 ) agreed to for UFC 263 on June 12. https://t.co/5pZZotUDjd
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 4, 2021
After the fact, the promotion afforded him an opportunity to face another highly ranked opponent. In particular, even in the twilight of his career, Maia is ranked at No.10 and will look to go out on top before he leaves the promotion for good (Maia is approaching the end of his UFC contract).
Belal Muhammad vs. Demian Maia Slated For UFC 263
Two top welterweights will put their styles to the test when they face each other in June. Specifically, the constant pressure Muhammad brings every fight often keeps opponents back peddling. However, Maia is a legend of the game and is familiar with just about every style out there. Despite Maia coming off a loss, the Brazilian is a renowned grappler and always a threat inside the octagon.
.@demianmaia @alannuguette @MaldonadoMMA @PauloThiagoCav https://t.co/S37x0yMZmx
— Charles Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) February 7, 2021
Muhammad likes to stand and trade but isn’t aversed to taking things to the ground, although against Maia that can spell trouble–quickly. Certainly, a big factor in this fight will be how Muhammad approaches the grappling legend. First and foremost, Muhammad can just strike but often times the beauty of his game relies on unpredictable takedowns. One thing is for sure, fans are in for a big pay-per-view and it all goes down June 12.
With the addition of Belal Muhammad vs. Demian Maia here is the current UFC 263 line-up:
- Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno
- Hakeem Dawodu vs. Movsar Evloev
- Paul Craig vs. Jamahal Hill
- Lauren Murphy vs. Joanne Calderwood
- Demian Maia vs. Belal Muhammad
- Carlos Felipe vs. Jake Collier
- Fares Ziam vs. Luigi Vendramini
- Karol Rosa vs. Sijara Eubanks
Who do you think will take the win at UFC 263, Belal Muhammad or Demian Maia? Let us know below in the comment section!
