“For me, it was obviously huge that he was posting about Palestine. That’s my brother now,” Belal Muhammad told MMA Junkie, showing appreciation for Khamzat Chimaev’s support during the Israel-Palestine tensions back in October. But that brief moment of solidarity didn’t last long. It’s clear the opinion and that same feeling of brotherhood has shifted, especially for ‘Borz,’ who’s now back to taking shots at the Palestinian American.

UFC 315’s main event turned into a nightmare for Belal Muhammad, as he lost his hard-earned welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena after a brutal five-round war. The loss drew plenty of reactions across the MMA world, mainly criticizing his performance. But it was Chimaev’s words that echoed across social media, posting, “He’s crying again!” which he deleted soon. 

After that, ‘Borz’ once again took a shot at the former welterweight champion, claiming he couldn’t show support for “fake people” who once called him a brother and later called him out for a fight. He posted on X: “Yes, he call me Muslim brother then he go saying he wants to beat me, so should I be nice to you? I like real people, not fake. If you call me brother, you should be my brother. I always support Palestine, but I never support fake people.”

That’s definitely a dramatic turn of events. Chimaev didn’t clarify exactly which callout he was referring to, but Belal Muhammad did express his interest in moving up to middleweight during an interview with Barstool Chicago. He said, “I think 185 is probably the easiest weight class, besides Khamzat. When you look at that (UFC 312) main event, you’re like, ‘Bro, Strickland and Du Plessis suck.”  So, Belal moving up to the middleweight division would’ve put him in direct competition with Khamzat, which could very well be where the animosity started brewing. 

The former welterweight champion is yet to respond to Chimaev’s post. Meanwhile, his UFC 315 performance continues to raise many questions about his approach, but not without a few giving him credit for the heart he showed during that five-round fight. Belal absorbed a huge number of shots that could’ve put most fighters out, and that grit is exactly what impressed Daniel Cormier. 

Daniel Cormier compliments Belal Muhammad’s chin at the UFC 315 main event

Jack Della Maddalena’s relentless barrage of strikes decimated Belal Muhammad in the UFC 315 main event. The Aussie’s slick head movement and pinpoint accuracy left many impressed. But also sparked a question: how did he not knock the former 170 lbs champ down? The answer lies in Belal’s iron chin. That toughness is what allowed him to absorb so much punishment without hitting the canvas. Instead, he walked away with multiple serious injuries.

Daniel Cormier was also shocked after seeing the resistance that Belal had. So, in the post-fight reaction video on his YouTube channel, former two-division champ said, “I was talking about in the fight, saying he was fighting the wrong fight. Because he was standing and trading with Della Maddalena. But the reality is, I didn’t think he had an option to do so, but standing and trading with Jack Della Maddalena, because he looked that good! His right hand landed so many times in the course of this fight, and if Belal didn’t have such a great chin, he would’ve been put out.” 

Cormier is absolutely right here. ‘JDM’ landed some brutally clean right hands that would’ve slept just about anyone. And in the fifth round, that knee that split Belal’s lip wide open could’ve easily sent most fighters crashing to the canvas, but Belal remained standing. Not only did he survive, but he even tried to bring the fight back to his opponent. That kind of resilience is definitely one aspect where the former champ deserves serious credit for. 

When fighters like Belal and Chimaev declare brotherhood, fans expect something deeper than hollow camaraderie. But what happens when professional rivalry pierces that shield?

American UFC fans, particularly those who’ve been watching since the days of Hughes, Liddell, or Silva, know the sport is deeply psychological and often political. This drama between Belal and Chimaev, while messy, opens up a broader conversation: can fighters navigate both personal convictions and ruthless competition without betraying one for the other?

The answers aren’t simple. Chime in and let us know your thoughts.