Belal Muhammad made history as he became the first Arab to win a UFC title when he snatched the welterweight crown from English champion Leon Edwards on Saturday night.
The Chicago-born fighter, the son of Palestinian immigrants, took a five-round decision over Edwards at UFC 304 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
Muhammad (23-3-0) and Edwards (22-4-0) first clashed on March 13, 2021, but the fight ended in a no contest after Edwards accidentally poked the American in the eye.
But on Saturday, the two went the distance, with Muhammad taking the decision 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 to lift the welterweight belt.
Afterwards, Muhammad, 36, his face bloodied from the battle, dropped to his knees after reeling off his 11th straight win before donning the championship belt. He has not lost since 2019.
“It sounds like all the people booing have a lot of tears in their eyes,” said Muhammad. “We've got a real champion in Chicago now.”
Muhammad, a practising Muslim who has twice fought in Abu Dhabi, has proudly waved the Palestinian flag during his career and said after his victory on Saturday: "I got my family here. This fight is for my family, for my people and Palestine. They're fighting the real fight."
Edwards defeated Kamaru Usman to win the belt in 2022 and had two successful title defences.
Elsewhere on Saturday's card, England's Tom Aspinall retained the UFC interim heavyweight championship after a brutal first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes, setting up a potential clash with division great Jon Jones.
The 31-year-old Aspinall challenged Jones to a unification bout. Jones, widely regarded as one of the best MMA fighters of all time, has been sidelined by a torn pectoral tendon since his last fight in March 2023.
His absence forced the need for an interim champion. There are still hiccups – among them, Jones has at least one more title defence lined up.
“Who wants to see Tom Aspinall versus Jon Jones,” Aspinall told a roaring crowd in Manchester in UFC's first trip to the city since 2016.
Aspinall (15-3-0) then looked straight into a camera and called out Jones.
“I just think I'm better than you,” Aspinall said. “I know I can beat you in a fight.”
The interim title fight was a late addition to the card after Jones tore a pectoral tendon off the bone during training only weeks ahead of his scheduled heavyweight title defence against Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden. The fight had to be called off and Jones required elbow surgery after the injury.
Jones and Miocic will fight at a future date – with a potential showdown in November at the Garden in the running – and the winner will then meet Aspinall to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion.
In his first clash with Aspinall, Blaydes had needed only 15 seconds to win when the Englishman suffered a knee injury.
But in their rematch on Saturday, Aspinall rocked Blaydes with a big right hand that sent the challenger to the canvas before he finished him off with a series of rights to the head that ended the fight at just one minute of the first round.
“Now, I’ve got my revenge, thank God,” Aspinall said.
After their first fight, Blaydes went 1-1 over his next two fights. Aspinall had a date with history as he knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in the first round to become the first British heavyweight to win gold at UFC 295 last November at Madison Square Garden.
Saturday's victory over Blaydes was Aspinall's 12th career knockout win – he has made it to the second round just once in his nine UFC fights.
“I'm the best finisher in the UFC, man,” Aspinall said.
Also on the main card, Liverpool native and fan favourite Paddy Pimblett won his eighth straight fight – six with UFC – when he submitted Bobby Green in the first round.
Pimblett choked out Green at 3:22 of the first round, and put the promotion on notice he was coming for main event fights and let the lightweight division know that he was coming for the championship.
“Statement made,” Pimblett said. “To all you haters out there that said I’d never get a ranking, what now? Are they going to move the goalposts again?”
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
