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Belal Muhammad: 'You Picked the Wrong Guy' — Warns Ian Garry Ahead of UFC Qatar

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Oct 3, 2025 12:02 PM ET

Former interim welterweight king Belal “Remember the Name” Muhammad is wasting no time plotting his return to the top. Booked for the co-main event of UFC Qatar on Nov. 22, Muhammad will face Ian Machado Garry in his first fight since dropping the belt to Jack Della Maddalena in May and he’s warned the Irish contender to be ready for a war. Garry publicly lobbied for the matchup, and Muhammad says the trash talk sealed the deal. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Muhammad didn’t hold back:

“You talked, You begged, You pleaded. You tweeted, You made stupid videos. We obliged. November 22, Ian Garry, I’m going to see you in Qatar. Let’s see if you back up all the talk.”

Garry arrives off a rebound win over Carlos Prates, a fight in which he recovered from adversity late and secured a decision. But Muhammad believes those moments exposed vulnerability and he plans to exploit them.

Belal Muhammad will face Ian Machado Garry in a welterweight bout at #UFCQatar, Dana White announced.

This will serve as the co-main event to Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker. pic.twitter.com/xZ6dyYd47k

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 1, 2025

Muhammad’s Message: Break Him, Put the Loss to Rest

Muhammad made the stakes personal beyond pride. He cast the matchup as the quickest path back to contention:

“I just want to get this loss off my back. I need to get back on the right side. I’m the best in the division… November 22, I get to prove it again.”

He then doubled down with a promise of physical domination:

“When I’m in there with you, I’m going to beat you up. It’s going to be a bad day, a bad night for you… Ian Garry, you picked the wrong guy, you picked the wrong date. November 22, the future’s not bright. See you soon, boy.”

Where This Fits in the Welterweight Picture

The timing of the fight is crucial. Reigning champion Jack Della Maddalena is slated to defend at UFC 322 on Nov. 15 against Islam Makhachev, who vacated the lightweight belt to chase another title. With the division’s landscape shifting, Muhammad sees the Qatar showdown as a de-facto No. 1 contender fight — a quick and decisive win could vault him back into immediate title consideration.

What to Expect

Muhammad: Grueling pace, top-tier grappling and pressure, relentless wrestling mix. He’s durable, fight-smart and motivated to erase the sting of his May loss.
Garry: Technical striking, composed footwork, and power. He’s still polishing his late-round conditioning and fight-IQ against elite pressure Muhammad’s specialty.

Final Word

Muhammad’s tone is defiant and singularly focused: no excuses, no delays just a fast track back to the title picture. Whether Garry’s boldness will match Muhammad’s experience and pressure remains the central question heading into Qatar.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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