BELAL MUHAMMAD SAYS HE HAS UNFINISHED BUSINESS WITH LEON EDWARDS

Summary

UFC fighter Bala Mohammed discusses his recent win over Gilbert Burns, highlighting the challenges and his mental toughness. Despite a swollen foot and doubts, Mohammed is grateful for the victory and the opportunity for a title shot. He talks about the strategic stance switching during the fight and addresses Gilbert Burns's possible injury. Mohammed expresses excitement about potentially fighting Leon Edwards or Colby Covington, emphasizing his dedication to the sport and readiness to take on any challenge.

Takeaways

• 🥋 Bala Mohammed secured a win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 288.
• 🏆 Mohammed is now in line for a UFC title shot, feeling blessed and acknowledging the hard work that led to this moment.
• ⏳ He took the fight on three weeks' notice, facing doubts but persevering through challenges.
• 🙏 Mohammed thanked God for helping him push through the tough times leading up to the fight.
• 🦶 He addressed concerns about a swollen foot, explaining it was just a minor issue managed by his coach and medical team.
• 💪 Mohammed noted Gilbert Burns might have had an arm injury during the fight, but Burns continued to fight aggressively.
• 🤼‍♂️ He strategically used stance switching in the first round to keep Burns guessing.
• 🌍 Mohammed is excited to fight in Abu Dhabi again, where he expects strong support from the fans.
• 👊 He prefers to fight Leon Edwards next, citing unfinished business from their previous encounter.
• 🗣 Mohammed emphasized his dedication to MMA, training hard every day, and taking risks like accepting fights on short notice.

Q & A

Who did Bala Mohammed defeat at UFC 288?

Bala Mohammed defeated Gilbert Burns at UFC 288.

How does Bala Mohammed feel about getting a UFC title shot?

Bala Mohammed feels blessed and has been working his whole life for this moment. He sees it as his title fight.

What challenges did Bala Mohammed face leading up to the fight?

Bala Mohammed faced doubts from the world and himself, and he had to push through significant challenges during the week leading up to the fight.

What was the issue with Bala Mohammed's foot?

Bala Mohammed's foot was swollen, but he received treatment from his coach Lewis Taylor and Heather, ensuring he could compete.

Did Bala Mohammed notice any injury in Gilbert Burns during the fight?

Yes, Bala Mohammed noticed Gilbert Burns shaking his arm, but he couldn't be sure if Burns was playing games or was genuinely hurt.

What strategy did Bala Mohammed employ in the first round of the fight?

Bala Mohammed used stance switching to give Gilbert Burns different looks and to disrupt his rhythm.

How does Bala Mohammed feel about potentially fighting in Abu Dhabi?

Bala Mohammed is excited about fighting in Abu Dhabi again due to the immense support he received there previously.

Which fighter does Bala Mohammed prefer to face next, Leon Edwards or Colby Covington?

Bala Mohammed prefers to face Leon Edwards because of their unfinished business and the way their last fight went.

What motivates Bala Mohammed to keep pushing forward in his MMA career?

Bala Mohammed is motivated by his love for the sport, his commitment to training, and the desire to prove himself against the best fighters in the world.

What does Bala Mohammed believe about taking fights on short notice?

Bala Mohammed believes that taking fights on short notice is a significant risk that many fighters avoid. He feels that taking such risks demonstrates his dedication and willingness to put his career on the line.

Outlines

00:00

🏆 UFC 288 Victory and Title Shot

Bala Mohammed reflects on his UFC 288 victory over Gilbert Burns. He discusses the significance of this win, viewing it as his title fight and expressing gratitude for overcoming self-doubt and external skepticism. Despite challenges and a short notice, he managed to push through and win.

🦶 Swollen Foot Controversy

Mohammed addresses online speculation about his swollen foot, explaining it was a minor issue managed with the help of his coach and a good foot massage. He emphasizes the importance of his strong mental game in overcoming physical obstacles during the fight.

💪 Observations on Burns' Injury

Mohammed shares his observations on Gilbert Burns possibly injuring his arm during their fight. Despite noticing Burns shaking his arm, Mohammed continued to engage, unsure if Burns was bluffing. He aimed to capitalize on the perceived weakness by targeting high kicks.

🔄 Stance Switching Strategy

Mohammed elaborates on his strategy of stance switching in the first round to confuse Burns. He credits his coach, Mike Valley, for enhancing his striking skills and making him adept at footwork, which played a crucial role in his fight strategy.

🌍 Anticipation for Abu Dhabi Fight

Discussing a potential fight in Abu Dhabi, Mohammed expresses excitement about receiving a warm reception compared to his experience in Miami. He reflects on the mixed reactions fighters often face and looks forward to the positive energy in Abu Dhabi.

🤼 Preference for Leon Edwards Fight

Mohammed reveals his preference to fight Leon Edwards over Colby Covington. He explains his desire to settle unfinished business with Edwards, who he accuses of running from him. Mohammed respects Covington but sees the Edwards fight as more personal.

💯 Dedication to MMA

Mohammed talks about his dedication to MMA, highlighting the hard work and sacrifices made behind the scenes. He emphasizes the risks he took by accepting a fight on short notice and how a loss could have set back his career. His faith in himself and his team was crucial in securing the win.

🥇 New Contender in the 170-pound Division

The interviewer congratulates Mohammed on becoming the new number one contender in the 170-pound division. Mohammed expresses his appreciation and reinforces his commitment to the sport, ready to take on future challenges.

Keywords

💡UFC 288

UFC 288 refers to a major event in the Ultimate Fighting Championship series. It is the context in which this interview takes place, where fighters compete and significant matches, such as Bala Mohammed's win over Gilbert Burns, occur.

💡Bala Mohammed

Bala Mohammed is a professional mixed martial artist who won his fight at UFC 288 against Gilbert Burns. His victory and the challenges he faced leading up to the fight are central to the narrative of the video.

💡Gilbert Burns

Gilbert Burns is a professional MMA fighter who fought against Bala Mohammed at UFC 288. Despite being a formidable opponent, he lost the fight, and his injury during the match is discussed in the video.

💡Title Shot

A title shot in MMA is an opportunity for a fighter to compete for a championship belt. Bala Mohammed is excited about his upcoming title shot, which he has been working towards his entire career.

💡Three Weeks' Notice

This refers to the short period Bala Mohammed had to prepare for his fight against Gilbert Burns. Despite the limited time and doubts from others and himself, he managed to secure a victory.

💡Mental Game

Mental game refers to the psychological aspect of a fighter's preparation and performance. Bala Mohammed credits his strong mental game for overcoming the challenges he faced during the fight.

💡Foot Swelling

Foot swelling is mentioned in relation to Bala Mohammed's physical condition before the fight. He experienced swelling, but his team, including coach Lewis Taylor, helped him manage it.

💡Stance Switching

Stance switching involves changing one's fighting stance during a match to confuse the opponent. Bala Mohammed used this strategy in the first round of his fight against Gilbert Burns.

💡Leon Edwards

Leon Edwards is another MMA fighter whom Bala Mohammed expresses a desire to fight. Their previous fight had unresolved issues, making Mohammed eager for a rematch.

💡Colby Covington

Colby Covington is another potential opponent for Bala Mohammed. Though Covington is known for his controversial personality, Mohammed is more interested in a rematch with Leon Edwards.

💡Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is a location where Bala Mohammed previously fought and received a warm reception. He looks forward to potentially fighting there again, anticipating strong support from the fans.

💡Jose Aldo vs. Korean Zombie

This refers to a famous fight in which Jose Aldo dislocated the shoulder of his opponent, Chan Sung Jung (Korean Zombie). Bala Mohammed attempted a similar tactic against Gilbert Burns, hoping to exploit an injury.

💡Eight Fight Winning Streak

An eight-fight winning streak means Bala Mohammed has won eight consecutive fights. This impressive record underscores his skill and determination, emphasizing the significance of his victory at UFC 288.

💡Coach Lewis Taylor

Coach Lewis Taylor is a member of Bala Mohammed's team who provided significant support, including giving him foot massages to help with his swelling. His role highlights the importance of the support team in an athlete's success.

Highlights

Bala Mohammed wins against Gilbert Burns at UFC 288, securing a title shot.

Mohammed expresses feeling blessed and describes this win as his title fight moment.

He took the fight on three weeks' notice, overcoming self-doubt and external doubts.

Mohammed thanks God for getting him through the challenges leading up to the fight.

He addresses the online rumors about his swollen foot, confirming it was real but managed by his team.

Mohammed credits his mental strength for pushing through the fight.

He noticed Gilbert Burns possibly injuring his arm during the fight but wasn't sure if it was a tactic.

Mohammed attempted to exploit Burns's possible injury by targeting it with high kicks.

He discusses his strategy of stance switching to keep Burns guessing.

Mohammed praises his striking coach, Mike Valley, for his expertise in the footwork game.

He looks forward to fighting in Abu Dhabi, expecting a positive reception there.

Mohammed prefers to fight Leon Edwards next due to their unfinished business.

He emphasizes his dedication to MMA, highlighting his hard work and commitment.

Mohammed took a significant risk by accepting the fight on short notice, aware of the career implications.

With this win, Mohammed becomes the number one contender in the 170-pound division.

Transcripts

UFC 288 Bala Mohammed he said it at the

start of the week he said what are they

going to say next you know he's standing

here he got a win over Gilbert burns the

man continues to win it does not matter

what you think of this man you know why

he can point to the scoreboard there are

W's on the scoreboard blah Mohammed you

got a UFC title shot coming up how does

that feel I mean I feel blessed you know

it's one of those things I've been

working my whole life for this moment

and uh this is like my title fight this

was my moment to get off three weeks

notice the world's doubting me do it I'm

doubting myself a couple times and I'm

like bro should I have taken a I'm

not taking it and uh man just want to

thank God for letting me get through it

and push through it uh people don't know

what we went through this week to get to

this day and uh to get through it and

get through a full 25 minutes it's

amazing now I want to get a I want to

get a look at the feet because there was

something going on online yesterday I

don't know if you saw it or not but

everybody was like yo what's up with

Allah Muhammad was that like a Photoshop

or something

yeah no it was just a little bit swollen

but you know we got the best in the

world Heather working on it uh my coach

Lewis Taylor gives me a good foot

massage every night so we got through it

like I said we got through today my

mental game is the strongest game and

that's all that matters did you notice

that Gilbert Burns's arm was was hurt I

mean I don't know if it was after the

first takedown or what it was but did

you notice in the fight yeah I sound

like shaking it out a little bit but

then like I'll get close and I'll see

him ready to wind up with it so it's

like you don't know if somebody's trying

to play games with you or not play games

with you and then I started throwing

high kicks to it and I was uh you know I

was trying to make it that uh that Jose

Aldo against uh Korean zombie moment

where I thought his shoulder popped out

but it didn't so I'm like all right well

I'm gonna keep hitting someone high

kicks there see what happens I want to

talk about the stance switching in the

first round as well was that part of the

strategy just to kind of give them

different looks in the first round to

not know what you were gonna do next

yeah for sure uh I'm I try to mimic a

lot of these guys and uh for him he

wants to be like planted on his feet and

then if he sees me moving sand switching

stand switching my coach is one of the

best striking coaches in the game shout

out to Mike Valley and he understands

stuff and sees stuff so we're we're like

trying to be experts at the Footwear

game and I'm getting better at every

time and I was talking to coach Lewis

and your team about this as well if the

Colby Covington and Leon Edwards fight

happens in Abu Dhabi the crazy part

about this is as much as people might

boo you here you're going to get a

bigger Ovation in Abu Dhabi than

probably the two people fighting for the

title bro I I can't wait just to go back

to Abu Dhabi because fighting over there

the love I got there was amazing and

they come in here getting booed I'm like

bro but I was in Miami when uh Gilbert

was getting booed against Mexico so I'm

like all right well Gilbert felt it

there so it's like I don't think it's

anything personal I love Sopranos

do you have anyone that you would rather

face would you rather face Leon or would

you rather kind of get to get you know

finally get your hands on Colby

Covington I mean I would rather fight

Leon just because of the way that last

fight went and because he was just

trying to sit there and run for me this

whole time Kobe's gonna be Kobe no

matter what but yeah I would definitely

want the Leon fight just because we

never we have unfinished business

I appreciate that brother I always

appreciate your honest insight and uh

you know what just your love for the

sport of MMA because your team said they

don't see what goes on behind closed

doors they don't see how hard this man

Works he got in the gym he did his

business and uh he came out tonight with

a W yeah honestly man it's like people

could say whatever they want about me

but I'm I'm going at it 100 every single

day of my life I'm living this sport

breathing it and there's no possible way

that 90 of these fighters on 851 issue

but never took a fight on three weeks

notice and taken that chance of putting

their whole career on the line because

you I lose this fight I'm three years

four years back and you know if I didn't

get a shot off at eight fight winning

streak what am I gonna get off of one

fight losing streak so there's so much

pressure to get this win and uh but I

know and I had the faith in myself and

my team that we could be anybody in the

world

the law Mohammed congratulations listen

the 170 pound division has a new number

one Contender

appreciate you my brother thank you

brother