Belal Muhammad has consistently flown the flag for Palestine in his UFC matches, but there’s a hiccup he’d like fixed on the UFC’s official site.
Each athlete’s profile typically displays their national flag, yet Belal’s was missing its emblem. On Thursday, the UFC welterweight champion took to social media, reaching out to UFC CEO Dana White, asking for this oversight to be corrected. This comes on the heels of Dana’s decision to allow fighters to bring flags to the octagon again.
“Fans keep asking, ‘What’s up with your flag?’,” Muhammad shared in a Twitter video. “I’ve gotten multiple messages about it, and initially, I figured it was just an oversight, but it’s still unresolved,” he explained. “So I’m bringing it up now in hopes that Dana will step in and rectify it. Dana’s always supported free speech, and the idea that fighters should be able to support whoever they want. No voices should be silenced.”
“I want the UFC to address this, so the folks I represent and fight for can see their flag next to my name,” he added.
Born in the United States to Palestinian parents, Muhammad has been vocal in supporting those impacted by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Throughout his tenure in the UFC, he’s always represented Palestine, proudly carrying its flag.
In a conversation with MMA Fighting, Muhammad expressed genuine excitement about bringing the Palestinian flag into the octagon for his upcoming title defense at UFC 315 in May, where he’ll face Jack Della Maddalena.
“The prospect of carrying that flag as a champion gives something for the community to rally around,” Muhammad said. “It allows them to take pride, to see their flag represented, and have a role model. It’s a dream for the kids and the community.”
After his stunning victory over Leon Edwards in England this past July, which secured him the title, Muhammad was deeply moved by the flood of messages and photos from Palestine celebrating his achievement.
These moments only strengthened his commitment to representing Palestine at every possible juncture, especially when competing on the UFC’s grand stage.
“There was a refugee camp broadcasting the fight,” Muhammad recounted. “They sent me a video of all the kids cheering and watching. Those kids are the true heroes. They’re the ones I fight for. Their cheers and smiles mean the world to me.”
“To witness their struggles and see their gratitude for simply being alive—it’s incredibly humbling. They persevere through challenges we can’t even fathom. While I fought for just 25 minutes, they fight daily for survival. It’s a stark reminder of the battles they endure that we often take for granted here.”
Update: Muhammad shared that the flag will soon be reinstated on his profile.
