Ray Longo was baffled by Belal Muhammad‘s strategy at UFC Fight Night 278.
Muhammad (24-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) was shut out in a unanimous decision loss to Gabriel Bonfim (20-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) this past Saturday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
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The former UFC welterweight champion attempted just two takedowns, which were both stuffed by Bonfim. Longo can’t understand why Muhammad opted to stand and trade with Bonfim for the majority of the fight.
“I thought he was unrecognizable,” Longo said on the “Anik & Florian Podcast.” “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?
“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, 37, is now on a three-fight losing skid since capturing the welterweight title in July 2024. He opted to predominantly strike in his losses to Jack Della Maddalena, Ian Machado Garry, and Bonfim, which resulted in decision losses.
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Although Muhammad claims he is not done, he finds himself in a difficult position going forward.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ray Longo: Belal Muhammad ‘was unrecognizable’ in Gabriel Bonfim loss
