Belal Muhammad wasted no time addressing his loss to Ian Machado Garry in the co-main event of UFC Qatar. The two welterweights went the distance, and it was “The Future” who secured the unanimous decision victory. While Garry continues to rise as a top contender at 170 pounds, Muhammad now faces a crossroads in his UFC career.“Remember The Name” took to Instagram after the fight, sharing his thoughts with fans.
“We couldn’t get it done,” Muhammad wrote. “Thank you Doha, for the memories. Thank you to my team and family and friends that are with me no matter what and thank you to anyone that’s with me. Alhamdillah for everything I’m blessed to be here …we have work to do.”
Before stepping into the Octagon on Saturday, Muhammad told Newsweek Sports he was excited to face Garry and respected the Irishman’s growing resume.
“He’s a guy that’s willing to fight anybody,” Muhammad said. “You’ve seen him fight MVP [Michael Page], who’s a tough puzzle. You’ve seen him fight Shavkat [Rakhmonov], you’ve seen him fight Prates. The kid is smart. He understands that you have to fight everybody, and he’s trying to be the best in the world. It pumps you up. It makes you excited because you want to beat a guy that’s willing to fight anybody.”
At 37, Muhammad’s next move remains uncertain. After going winless in 2025, a big victory in 2026 could put him back in title contention. Muhammad had built an impressive 10-0 run with 1 no-contest in his last 11 fights before dropping the UFC Welterweight Championship to Jack Della Maddalena in May.
Meanwhile, Garry is calling for a shot at Islam Makhachev’s 170-pound title. Whether he’s cemented himself as the No. 1 contender is still up in the air, but his performance in Doha shows he’s serious about climbing the ranks.
For fans and fighters alike, UFC Qatar offered thrilling matchups, and with four fighters walking away with extra cash thanks to the UFC Qatar bonuses, the night will be remembered for more than just the wins and losses. It highlighted the stakes and the rewards that keep fighters hungry for greatness.
