is an expert voice who serves as MMAmania.com’s weekend editor, covering mixed martial arts (MMA) for more than 15 years, getting featured on programs such as Countdown to UFC and SiriusXM Fight Club, among others.
Belal Muhammad is riding the Khamzat Chimaev hype train this weekend at UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois, and he’s been letting UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis know all about it.
Earlier in the week, Muhammad ripped into DDP suggesting the South African fighter wasn’t allowed in his city of Chicago. “Remember the Name” caught wind that du Plessis threw out a pitch for the Chicago Cubs before visiting the Chicago Bears training camp and wasn’t happy. Muhammad claimed that Chi-Town was “his city” and that the UFC middleweight king had already overstayed his welcome.
It didn’t help du Plessis’ case that he and Muhammad have already beefed on social media.
On Friday night, Muhammad joined a few other fighters for a UFC 319 Q&A session in front of a wild Chicago crowd. Muhammad was eventually asked who he thinks will win UFC 319’s main event and that resulted in him banning DDP from ever returning to Chi-Town again.
Check it out below:
“That’s what happens when you don’t check in before you come to Chicago,“ said Muhammad about DDP getting booed during Thursday’s UFC 319 pre-fight press conference. ”I told him. He should have come to my house I would have signed a permission slip and they would’ve cheered for him.
“But now you’re in the wrong spot. Chicago, I want you to boo him louder than you’ve ever booed before when he weighs in. Make sure he hears it. Make sure he knows. He’s not allowed back to Chicago anymore.”
Later into the Q&A, Muhammad was asked about his return to the Octagon and who he wants to fight next. The former UFC welterweight champion is actually hoping to catch DDP after Saturday’s UFC 319 PPV event to throw hands in the United Center parking lot.
“I’m hoping tomorrow night after Dricus loses he sees me in the parking lot and we throw hands.”
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MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE CAR CRASH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., Aug. 16, 2025, with a blockbuster title fight set to headline UFC 319 from inside United Center in Chicago, Illinois. In UFC 319’s PPV main event, Middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis, defends his title against undefeated No. 3-ranked contender, Khamzat Chimaev, in a high-stakes, five-round battle of unbeaten UFC records. UFC 319’s PPV co-main event features a Featherweight showdown between Lerone Murphy and promotional newcomer, Aaron Pico, a high-profile free-agent signing stepping in on short notice. UFC 319 will also showcase a Welterweight clash between Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates, a Middleweight bout pitting Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page, a Flyweight matchup featuring Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura, and much more! UFC 319’s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (“Early Prelims”), 8 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard), and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card)
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 319 fight card on fight night, starting with the earlyESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 319 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 319: “Du Plessis vs. Chimaev” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 319 fight card and PPV lineup click here.