Khamzat Chimaev Taunts Belal Muhammad Ahead of UFC Title Shot
Just weeks after UFC President Dana White confirmed Khamzat Chimaev will get his long-awaited shot at UFC gold, the undefeated fighter is already igniting rivalries—this time targeting welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
Chimaev, who is expected to face middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis later this year, stirred the pot on social media by posting a cryptic photo of a pony on X (formerly Twitter). Alongside the image, he wrote in Russian: “bullyb170 where are you going pony”—a clear jab at Muhammad, whose handle is @bullyb170, though Chimaev didn’t tag him directly.
Despite the subtlety, Muhammad caught wind of the post and fired back. He shared an image of himself in a “Muhammad vs Chimaev” T-shirt with the caption: “Goin to middleweight.”
The brief back-and-forth quickly captured fans’ attention, sparking speculation about a potential future showdown between the 170-pound champ and the unbeaten middleweight contender—if both can hold on to their titles.
Muhammad is scheduled to defend his welterweight belt against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10. Meanwhile, Chimaev is gearing up for his middleweight title clash with Du Plessis, which Dana White recently confirmed is set, though no longer part of International Fight Week.
Despite earlier rumors that Du Plessis might be sidelined by injury, the South African denied the claims, calling them “untrue.”
“The Du Plessis vs. Khamzat fight, it’s happening,” White said. “It’s just not happening in International Fight Week. That fight’s done.”
For now, both fighters are focused on their upcoming title defenses. But if they emerge victorious, a blockbuster clash between Chimaev and Muhammad could be on the horizon. With tensions already flaring online, fans are watching closely to see if this budding rivalry turns into an official bout.
