UFC Rankings Update: Belal Muhammad breaks into top 5 of welterweight rankings

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Surging welterweight Belal Muhammad made big moves in the latest UFC rankings update

The last UFC event of 2021 ended with a bang. UFC Fight Night 199: Lewis vs Daukaus (aka UFC Vegas 45) witnessed a plethora of knockouts.

The main card was kicked off by old-timer Cub Swanson who knocked Darren Elkins out in the very first round. Up and coming lightweight Mateusz Gamrot continued his splendid run with a TKO (submission to knee to the body) win over Carlos Diego Ferreira.

Cub Swanson
Cub Swanson after his win over Darren Elkins

Ricky Simon flattened Raphael Assuncao in the second round. In the women’s strawweight category, Amanda Lemos and Angela Hill fought out an entertaining war that was decided by a split decision.

In the co-main event, Belal Muhammad dominated the dangerous Stephen Thompson on the ground to cruise to an easy unanimous decision win.

Knockout artist Derrick Lewis handed Chris Daukaus his first UFC defeat with a brutal first-round KO, in the main event.

Derrick Lewis
Derrick Lewis finishing Chris Daukaus at UFC Vegas 45 (Credits: MMA Fighting)

Belal Muhammad close to fighting for the welterweight title?

The latest UFC rankings was recently out. Belal Muhammad was the biggest gainer. The surging welterweight gained 5 places, and broke into the top 5 of the welterweight rankings.

He might very well be close to fighting for the welterweight title.

Stephen Thompson, meanwhile, slipped to number 7.

UFC Rankings Update
Belal Muhammad moved up five places in the welterweight division

Other notable changes – Raphael Assuncao dropped three places to 15, in the bantamweight rankings; Raquel Pennington displaced Miesha Tate at number 7 in the women’s bantamweight rankings.

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