It is safe to say that many people underestimate Belal Muhammad for all the wrong reasons. Although the man has the distinction of being the first Palestinian-American UFC champion, fans haven’t really shown him the respect he deserves. From calling his fights ‘snoozefests’ to even security members not recognising him, ‘Bully B’ has been on the wrong end of the MMA spectrum many times. The main reason? His penchant for decision wins and the urge to play it safe rather than going all out in search of explosive finishes. Moreover, the current 170lbs kingpin only has two KO/TKO wins in his entire UFC career, the last one coming at UFC 280 against Sean Brady.

But do you know there was another welterweight great who was not really known for highlight reel KOs but is now considered by many as the GOAT? Well, we are talking about none other than Georges-St-Pierre. A former two-division champ and the man who still holds the record for most welterweight title defenses at 9, GSP was also, at times, termed a boring fighter. But as time went on, the French-Canadian proved his naysayers wrong and now proudly sits in the UFC Hall of Fame.

And with Muhammad set to make his first title defense against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, GSP spoke to Bloody Elbow about the ‘entertainment’ factor that many feel is missing from Muhammad’s fights. The former welterweight king praised Muhammad, saying, “Belal is the complete package—he’s good everywhere. He’s got a very awkward style that throws a lot of people off, especially in the striking department. Jake, on the other hand, is on a tear—he’s got momentum and a winning streak. It’s gonna be an interesting fight.”

He also added, “Jake could have the advantage in the striking department, but it’s not just a kickboxing match—it’s mixed martial arts. If I’m Belal Muhammad, I believe that’s where you take advantage. Belal has more tools to win.”

Even Della Maddalena shared his thoughts on Muhammad’s fighting style, comparing him to Georges St-Pierre. Speaking on The Grin Reapers podcast, Maddalena defended Muhammad, saying, “Yeah, he’s not the most exciting guy. But he’s good at winning. And people who are good at winning aren’t always the most exciting. GSP copped a bit of that back in the day—people called him boring too.” The 17-2 fighter emphasized that he values effective fighting over pure entertainment. Similarly, Joe Rogan has echoed this sentiment, saying that it’s more important to win than to entertain like Michael Chandler.

Joe Rogan and Ilia Topuria weigh in on Belal Muhammad’s fighting style

While speaking to Joe Rogan on his podcast, Ilia Topuria discussed fighters like Michael Chandler, who are known for their aggressive, entertaining technique. The UFC commentator contrasted that with a more measured style, saying, “To not be as entertaining and just be better. And shut people down.” Topuria also added, “At the same time, you don’t have to be Belal, right?” Followed by a moment of silence, Rogan agreed, “Right. I see what you’re saying.”

And the current 170lbs kingpin didn’t take too kindly to these comments. While speaking to MMA Junkie, he said: “You’re two weight classes below me, so nothing is going to come from it. But if he wants to keep talking, we can go.” ‘Remember the Name’ has faced criticism before for his grappling-heavy style and decision wins, despite holding a 10-fight winning streak against elite competition. Moreover, this is the reason fighters like Muhammad and Leon Edwards had to work extremely hard to receive a title shot in the first place.

The critiques are less about his success and more about the entertainment value of his performances. Meanwhile, the Aussie title challenger believes the current welterweight division is going through a similar phase to what Georges St-Pierre experienced during his career, where dominance sometimes came at the expense of excitement. Do you think Muhammad will win at UFC 315 and keep his title? Share your thoughts in the comments below!