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UFC Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, but is quite proud of his Palestinian heritage. Both of his parents immigrated from Palestine, and “Remember The Name” is often seen carrying the Palestinian flag before and after his fights. On several occasions, he’s spoken passionately about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, and his heritage has even been brought up against him more than once by noted loudmouth Sean Strickland.
So why isn’t Muhammad listed with the Palestinian flag on the official UFC website? Fans online noticed that of the 16 athletes listed on the UFC 315 page, Muhammad is the only one without a flag by his name at all.
It’s an odd situation. If Muhammad was listed with an American flag next to his name, likely nobody would have noticed or cared given his Chicago roots. However, the complete lack of flag seems to indicate that Muhammad choose to represent Palestine and then was denied outright by … somebody? Thanks to veteran MMA journalist Luke Thomas, we even have an example of a fighter representing another country’s flag despite being a US citizen in Kron Gracie.
The argument he doesn’t have a Palestinian flag because he’s American is weak for at least 2 reasons:
1. He has no flag at all, not merely that he has U.S. flag
2. Kron Gracie was born in Brazil, but moved to the U.S. at age 1 & he’s an American citizen. He has Brazil’s flag. https://t.co/DMcrxyQTjT pic.twitter.com/hmSGDSnZZg— Luke Thomas ️♀️ (@lthomasnews) February 25, 2025
The whole situation is odd. Muhammad is photographed by UFC personnel with his Palestinian flag often (see above!), and it’s no issue. Why would a little online graphic that few people even notice be the line in the sand? Furthermore, UFC CEO Dana White spends half his time lately ranting about free speech. Fighters say abhorrent things weekly without punishment or censorship, and for better or worse, that’s the current company policy.
But Belal can’t have his flag on the UFC website? The UFC flag been has been lifted for most, but there’s clearly still some sensitivity on the topic.
Insomnia
I am genuinely heartbroken about Dan Hooker’s broken hand, as his match up versus Justin Gaethje was perhaps the most exciting of the year. In my book, there’s only one man who can save the card …
Friends don’t volunteer friends for Gaethje-induced brain damage.
I love this.
Rebooking Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2 ALREADY would be so pointless. Let “Suga” win a fight!
It’s too long to include in full here, but click through for an interesting angle on the mental side of fighting courtesy of “The Immortal.”
Had great feedback from my recent thread on how I went from a nobody loser to a ufc record holder but… Why did I not become champion? This is a thread on the things I did wrong and the things that stalled my success…
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) February 25, 2025
High-level wrestling matches are rough as hell.
♂️ This is where Daniel Cormier started doing his signature move – uppercuts in the clinch.
Wrestling tournament in Dagestan, 2005. pic.twitter.com/lHOJuDcP8I
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) February 24, 2025
One should never miss an “Iron Turtle” fight.
It’s hard not to chuckle.
February is now in the books for the Co leaders of MMA.
Here’s how many fights each promotion put on.
UFC-47
PFL-0— Andy Hickey MMA (@AndyHickeyMMA) February 24, 2025
Slips, rips, and KO clips
I love a comically looping MMA overhand.
Prime “Shogun” Rua remains one of the most brutal offensive strikers in MMA history.
Even great strikers are vulnerable along the ropes.
Random Land
Works best while scrolling.
Midnight Music: Folk, 2020
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
