Muhammad dominates Thompson on ground for biggest win of career
Belal Muhammad could be heading to the welterweight top five after taking out Stephen Thompson.
Muhammad defeated Thompson via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-26) in the UFC Fight Night co-main event Saturday in Las Vegas.
Afterward, the 33-year-old called out UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. He said if he doesn't get a title shot next, he wants to run it back with Leon Edwards.
Muhammad dominated Thompson for all three rounds. Thompson started out peppering his opponent with punches and landing big kicks in Round 1, but Muhammad - who had success landing takedowns and controlling his opponent during most of the fight - quickly took him to the mat.
"Remember the Name" came close to finishing Thompson at the end of the first round, taking his back and flattening him out before raining down ground-and-pound. Thompson was unable to move, but since the shots weren't too damaging, referee Herb Dean did not step in.
Muhammad is now riding a seven-fight unbeaten streak dating back to 2019, including a recent victory over Demian Maia and a no-contest against Edwards in March 2020.
Thompson, 38, has lost two in a row after dropping a decision to Gilbert Burns this past summer.