Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Belal Muhammad looks on in the UFC welterweight championship bout during the UFC 304 event at Co-op Live on July 28, 2024 in Manchester, England.
UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad confirmed he is out of his UFC 310 main event bout against Shavkat Rakhmonov because of an injury. Muhammad posted a video on social media from a hospital bed on October 31, 2024, revealing that he has a bone infection.
“Caught a bone infection in my foot,” Muhammad wrote in the caption of the video.
The 36-year-old Chicago native was getting ready for his first title defense on December 7, 2024, in Las Vegas against the 18-0 Rakhmonov. The UFC has not commented on Muhammad’s social media post and it was not immediately clear if Rakhmonov will remain in the main event in what would become an interim title fight.
Rumors began spreading on social media that an injury had put the UFC 310 main event in jeopardy. Before Muhammad’s post, MMA journalist Al Zullino posted on X, “Belal Muhammad is out of his title bout against Shavkat Rakhmonov, which was supposed to happen on December 7th at #UFC310, multiple sources confirmed to me after rumors started spreading in recent days. The UFC is actively looking for a replacement fight, I’m told.”
Muhammad, 24-3-1, won the welterweight title from Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July.
Belal Muhammad Says He Needs IV Antibiotics & Will Be Sidelined From Physical Activity for 6 Weeks
In the caption of the video, Muhammad added, “…had to put a picc line in my arm for iv antibiotics the next 6 weeks with no physical activity … Allahs plan is the best plan I’m sorry to everyone that were coming to see me Ill be back soon inshAllah.”
The video shows Muhammad in a hospital bed with an IV in his arm. PICC line stands for a peripherally inserted central catheter, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“A PICC line gives your doctor access to the large central veins near the heart. It’s generally used to give medications or liquid nutrition. A PICC line can help avoid the pain of frequent needle sticks and reduce the risk of irritation to the smaller veins in your arms,” the Mayo Clinic says. “Antibiotics and antifungal medicines can be given through a PICC line for serious infections.”
Muhammad also shared graphic photos of his infected toe and foot.
Tom Cleary is an editor and reporter who covers breaking news, fantasy sports, golf, the NFL, NBA and UFC. Tom is based in Connecticut and started his career working in local newspapers. He has worked at Heavy as a writer and editor since 2015. More about Tom Cleary
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