Overview
- UFC president Dana White confirmed the welterweight bout as part of the promotion’s first card in Qatar, with Garry and Muhammad set for the co-main event on Nov. 22 in Doha.
- Belal Muhammad called the pairing a No. 1 contender fight and warned Garry he will be “broken,” framing a win as his route back to the welterweight title.
- Ian Machado Garry pledged to make Muhammad “look like an amateur” in an Instagram message that amplified the pre-fight rhetoric.
- Coverage questioned Garry’s claim that he “shut down” Shavkat Rakhmonov, noting he lost their December 2024 bout by unanimous decision on 48-47 scorecards.
- Garry returned to form with an April decision over Carlos Prates after his first pro loss, while Muhammad enters after dropping the belt to Jack Della Maddalena in May and seeking quick re-entry into the title picture.