Dagestani training camps are no joke. And among the countless UFC monsters who have trained under Khabib Nurmagomedov, Belal Muhammad also shared a similar sentiment when he joined the crew.

Throwback to UFC 280, headlined by another of Nurmagomedov's prodigies, Islam Makhachev, against Charles Oliveira, Muhammad was also set to enter the Octagon. That extensive fight camp against Sean Brady changed it all for the Palestinian fighter.

“I’ve been in many different gyms, and when they say they train differently, they’re different,” the UFC welterweight shared on the Jibber with Jabber podcast.

Nurmagomedov's training camps are notorious for being merciless. Conditioning and cardio sit at the center of their sessions, whereas technique is emphasized to overcome physical barriers.

Countless videos online show the fighters grinding in a sizzling room with no heat ventilators. Some have questioned the underlying hygiene issues, but it's impossible to deny their heart.

But it's not just the intensity that the Dagestanis dominate; the discipline is unmatched, too, as Muhammad explained. "When Khabib walks into the room, it’s like an army; there’s no joking around."

Moreover, the culture and the shared Muslim fraternity also play into the dynamic, the fighter argued. "We’re training killing each other, and then right after we’re praying at the mosque right there... It just brings you closer to God in general."

And the Palestinian fighter carried this dedication inside the cage, too.

Belal Muhammad smoked the cage with a 2nd-round TKO

Belal Muhammad walked into the cage with a calm confidence that spoke volumes about the quality of the training he had in Dagestan. As soon as the round started, Muhammad went in aggressively, inviting Brady to an open-ended brawl.

The fighters traded shots from the pocket, landing heavy, disorienting blows. Throughout the fight, Muhammad kept the upper hand when it came to most strikes, ultimately getting the TKO at the 4:47 mark in the second round.

While the welterweight fighter barely engaged in grappling sequences, it was inevitably the hustle inside Nurmagomedov's camp that helped him extend his win streak to a whopping 8.

Although Belal Muhammad has been suffering a string of disappointments lately, he has proven time and time again that he's not afraid to take on a challenge. Do you think he can come back from the downward skid? Share your thoughts.

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil