Belal Muhammad has all the time represented Palestine every time he competes within the UFC, however now he’s hoping the promotion can rectify an issue associated to his profile on the corporate web site.
Whereas athletes on the UFC’s web site function flags from their dwelling nations subsequent to their names, it was delivered to Muhammad’s consideration that his was left clean. On Thursday, the reigning UFC welterweight champion despatched out a plea to UFC CEO Dana White to repair that downside, particularly after he championed permitting fighters to as soon as once more carry flags to the octagon.
“Individuals maintain asking me, ‘The place’s your flag?’ I stored getting a number of messages from it, and I used to be simply assuming it was a mistake, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not addressed,” Muhammad mentioned on a video posted to Twitter. “So I’ll deal with it and hope that Dana addresses it as properly and fixes it. As a result of Dana mentioned he’s all about free speech, he’s all about individuals supporting who they wish to assist and never muting or silencing anyone.
“I’m hoping that the UFC fixes this concern and places my flag subsequent to my identify so the those who I symbolize, the those who I struggle for, and the those who I practice for will see their flag subsequent to their champion’s identify.”
Muhammad, who was born in the US to Palestinian dad and mom, has been an outspoken advocate supporting the individuals affected by the continued battle in Gaza. He’s additionally represented Palestine all through his UFC profession, carrying the flag to the cage in previous fights.
In reality, Muhammad beforehand informed MMA Preventing that he was genuinely excited to hold the Palestinian flag to the octagon with him for his first title protection, which is now set for UFC 315 in Could when he faces Jack Della Maddalena.
“For me to have the ability to carry that flag with the belt, to be the champion, it simply provides them one thing to be pleased with,” Muhammad mentioned. “One thing they will level at and say ‘that’s my flag! That’s my countryman! That’s my man!’ It simply provides these youngsters one thing larger to dream about.”
When he claimed the title this previous July with a dominant victory over Leon Edwards in England, Muhammad was overwhelmed by movies and pictures he acquired from individuals in Palestine celebrating his win.
That solely strengthened his resolve to proceed representing Palestine every time he has the chance however notably when he’s competing on the most important stage in fight sports activities within the UFC.
“There was actually a refugee camp that had the fights on,” Muhammad mentioned. “They despatched me a video of it and all the children cheering it and watching it whereas they had been there. These are the actual heroes. These are the fellows that I do it for. To get a cheer, to get a smile from one in every of these youngsters, to have them look as much as me once I’m trying as much as them. They’re the strongest individuals on the earth, they’re essentially the most resilient individuals on the earth.
“To see the stuff that they’re going via and the stuff that they’re nonetheless grateful for. They’re so grateful simply to be alive on a regular basis. They’re nonetheless grateful to have the ability to struggle and nonetheless have the ability to dwell once I’m sitting there, I simply fought 25 minutes. It’s nothing. They’re preventing to be alive. They’re preventing on a regular basis to do that factor that we take without any consideration right here in America.”
