Ray Longo has openly questioned Belal Muhammad’s strategy in his unanimous decision loss to Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Fight Night 278.
Muhammad went down on the scorecards after largely choosing to stand with Bonfim at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas this past Saturday. He attempted just two takedowns, both of which were defended by Bonfim, and is now on a three-fight losing streak since winning the welterweight title in July 2024.
Speaking on the Anik & Florian Podcast, Longo didn’t hide his surprise at Muhammad’s approach. “I thought he was unrecognizable,” Longo said, later adding, “Why would you abandon what got you there? I was definitely confused during that fight. No? Was it me? It was almost like he was medicated. Like he was that calm where he was, it is catatonic?”
Longo continued, “Is that the word I'm looking for where he didn't look like he was totally present to me, and moving backwards, not pushing the pace at all. I don't know. Put it this way: I expected something completely different out of him.”
Muhammad, now 24-6 in MMA and 15-6 in the UFC, has predominantly struck in his recent decision losses to Jack Della Maddalena, Ian Machado Garry, and Bonfim. Bonfim improved to 20-1 overall and 7-1 in the UFC with the win.
