Belal Muhammad, the UFC fighter, has always represented Palestine in his competitions. Now, he is asking the UFC to correct an issue on his official website profile.
UFC profiles usually show flags of the fighters’ home countries. However, Muhammad noticed that his profile was missing a flag. He appealed to UFC CEO Dana White to fix this, especially since White had supported fighters carrying flags again.
Muhammad mentioned in a video on Twitter that people kept asking him about his missing flag. He initially thought it was a mistake, but it hasn’t been corrected. He hopes Dana White will address this, given White’s stance on free speech and supporting individual expression.
Muhammad hopes the UFC will add his flag to his profile. This is important for the people he represents, fights for, and trains for, so they can see their flag next to their champion’s name.
Muhammad, born in the USA to Palestinian parents, has actively supported Palestinians affected by the Gaza conflict. He has consistently carried the Palestinian flag in his UFC fights.
Muhammad previously expressed his excitement about carrying the Palestinian flag for his first title defense at UFC 315 in May against Jack Della Maddalena.
Muhammad believes carrying the flag with the championship belt will give his people something to be proud of, a symbol of representation and a bigger dream for the younger generation.
After winning the title in July, Muhammad was deeply moved by celebratory videos and photos from Palestine. This strengthened his commitment to represent Palestine in the UFC.
Muhammad shared that people in a refugee camp watched his fight and sent him a video of their enthusiastic reaction. He dedicates his fights to these resilient people, finding inspiration in their strength and gratitude amidst hardship.
He contrasts his 25-minute fight with their daily struggle for survival, emphasizing their resilience and appreciation for life in the face of adversity, things often taken for granted in America.
