Belal Muhammad plans on bringing the heat in his UFC debut
LAS VEGAS --- Belal Muhammad has long been one of the top up-and-coming prospects in the welterweight division and after an impressive TitanFC win over the elite Steve Carl he got his crack at the big leagues. On Wednesday, the undefeated Midwesterner makes his UFC debut and he's being thrown right into the fire against the dangerous Alan Jouban.
For Muhammad, it is right where he expected to be. "After the Steve Carl fight we were definitely hoping to make it the UFC next, and the Chicago event later in July seemed like a perfect opportunity," he tells FOXSports.
"But when this came along, I had to take it. It's a big week and a great opponent. Beating someone like Alan Jouban will tell the world that I'm ready for the best in the UFC."
Muhammad actually stepped in as a replacement for Jouban's originally scheduled opponent. The notice and the opponent don't daunt him, however.
In fact, they only provide additional motivation. "That's my attitude -- that you put me in against anyone and I can make it happen," he explained.
UFC rookies usually have to face a lot of new challenges, from brighter spotlight, to steps-up in competition. Muhammad is confident that, despite Jouban's extensive UFC experience, he'll be the one to show "Brahma" stuff he's never before seen or felt during their UFC Fight Pass contest.
"Just my pressure. People don't really know the type of pressure I can put on them until they fight me," Muhammad continues.
"I think I'm hard to take down and I have confidence in my striking. I'm going to go out there and just try to put a pressure on him that he hasn't felt before."
