Over the past 18 months, the welterweight division has seen two title changes, several contenders emerge, and as UFC Fight Night prepares for another welterweight main-event showdown, former champion Belal Muhammad, the division’s most consistent performer for much of the last five years, finds himself on a two-fight losing streak and rapidly losing footing in a crowded division.Standing opposite him is the marauding Brazilian Gabriel Bonfim, who enters on a four-fight winning streak.Yet, at the UFC Apex, for Bonfim, who will be featuring in his second consecutive main event, a lot rides on this fight if he wants to get himself into the conversation for that 170-pound title. Going by his last bout – a statement knockout win over veteran Randy Brown – it was the performance that suggested the former Dana White’s Contender Series winner is finally ready to enter the big leagues.“I am more focused, more dedicated, and hungrier to become the champion of this division,” Bonfim tells TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive conversation ahead of UFC Fight Night on 7th June.Bonfim was never short of confidence, and Brown’s victory would have only boosted that further. Against the former champion Muhammad, he will need all that confidence and more to prevail.What’s unique about Bonfim is that his recent run has showcased every aspect of his game: knockout, submission, and decision wins. He has developed his skill set significantly from being primarily known as a submission specialist during his early foray into MMA.“I believe I showed that I am a complete fighter. I can strike, and I can grapple. I think I proved to the division that I am a well-rounded fighter and that my striking deserves respect,” says Bonfim when asked about what he carries from the Brown fight heading into the Muhammad clash.While Muhammad is known for his pressure, relentless attacks, and ability to disrupt even the best game plans by making fights uncomfortable, he also likes to take opponents deep into contests and often emerges as the fighter with greater resolve at the end of a long grind.Four of Muhammad’s five-round fights in the UFC have gone the distance, with him emerging victorious on three occasions, while Bonfim has only gone the distance twice, both in three-round bouts.And despite Muhammad’s consecutive losses to Ian Machado Garry and Jack Della Maddalena, there is little that Bonfim is taking lightly about the former champion.“Belal Muhammad is very dangerous because he is a fighter who is always moving forward. He applies pressure all the time and likes to disrupt his opponents’ game plans. He likes to make things difficult and create chaos inside the fight. That pressure is one of his biggest strengths.”And that is exactly where the veteran Muhammad excels – building pressure, not allowing his opponents to settle into their rhythm, and gradually taking the upper hand.But for Bonfim, that is where his three-month camp becomes crucial, focusing on the very aspects that make Muhammad such a dangerous proposition: the cage clinch, wrestling and his ability to control fights on the ground.“Throughout this camp, we worked a lot on specific strategies for him. First of all, we focused heavily on takedown defense, and also on getting back to our feet quickly if we do get taken down. It was a very intense camp. We spent three months working specifically on that strategy,” says Bonfim.Bonfim is also wary of the fact that Muhammad will likely try to take the fight deep, and he hopes to rely on the experience gained from his previous main-event preparation, even if he does not yet possess extensive five-round fight experience.“This fight is different because it is likely to be much more intense and could very well go the full five rounds. I would say there is a 90% chance it goes the distance.“We gained valuable experience from the previous camp. Of course, we trained for five rounds and only needed two because of the knockout, but the preparation and experience are still there.”Bonfim currently sits just outside the top 10, while Muhammad remains ranked No. 5. The two losses have stalled Muhammad’s momentum, and with Carlos Prates’ huge statement win over Jack Della Maddalena last month, the race for the No. 1 contender’s spot is heating up. Later this year, Islam Makhachev is expected to put his title on the line against Ian Machado Garry.And at 37, while Muhammad might be fighting to stay relevant in a younger and faster division featuring the likes of Ian Machado Garry, Michael Morales, Carlos Prates and Shavkat Rakhmonov competing for position behind champion Islam Makhachev, Bonfim does not want to be left behind.“I think this fight can establish me as a legitimate contender who is ready to fight for the belt whenever the opportunity comes,” said Bonfim.“I believe a win puts me in the position of a contender, someone who can challenge for the title at any moment. If that opportunity does not come immediately, there are still many top-five fighters available for me to face. Those fights would keep me active and allow me to continue earning while working my way toward the title.”Yet still, Bonfim has made heads turn, and he would like to continue that momentum. Reflecting on the journey and the start he has made in the UFC so far, for Bonfim it is all about making his family proud and, more importantly, his daughter. It is the sense of satisfaction that drives him.“I believe it would be the result of a job well done. It would be very satisfying because it represents so much hard work and sacrifice. It would make my family proud, the people around me proud, and it would mean a lot for my daughter as well.“For me, it would be proof that all the work, sweat, and dedication were worth it. It would be extremely rewarding and would bring me a great sense of satisfaction.”Watch UFC Fight Night – Muhammad vs. Bonfim on June 7th 2026, from 5:30 AM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) and Sony LIV.
