When you think of knockout artists in the UFC, Belal Muhammad’s name isn’t usually the first one that pops up. And that’s totally fine — because his game has never been about wild one-punch finishes. Instead, Belal has built his career on pace, pressure, cardio, and one of the smartest fight IQs in the welterweight division.
But fans still ask the same question over and over:
How many people has Belal Muhammad actually knocked out?
Let’s break it down clearly, and look at what that number really tells us about his style, his strengths, and his future in the UFC.
✅ So, How Many Knockouts Does Belal Muhammad Have?
Across his professional MMA career, Belal Muhammad has scored:
➡️ 5 KO/TKO wins
(out of 24 total victories)
The rest are mostly decision wins — a trademark of his grinding, high-pressure style.
So while he’s not known as a knockout machine, he has stopped opponents with strikes multiple times, especially earlier in his career and again in some key moments as he climbed the UFC rankings.
Why Belal’s Knockout Number Matters
At first glance, having just five KO/TKO wins might seem low compared to fighters who regularly end bouts with highlight-reel KOs. But numbers without context can be misleading. Here’s why Belal’s finishing rate actually makes perfect sense:
1. His Style Isn’t Built Around Knockout Power
Belal is a guy who wears opponents down over time. He’s not hunting for the one big shot — he’s hunting for dominance.
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He pressures constantly.
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He mixes strikes with level changes.
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He drags the fight into deep waters.
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He breaks rhythm and confidence.
This style naturally produces more decision wins, because he’s controlling the entire fight from minute one to minute fifteen (or twenty-five).
2. His Fight IQ is Extremely High
Belal often chooses the highest-percentage path to victory. For him, that means:
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Using his cardio advantage
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Staying defensively responsible
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Picking smart moments to strike
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Avoiding unnecessary brawls
He fights to win — not to impress highlight reels — and that’s why he reached the top of the welterweight division.
3. He Doesn’t Take Reckless Risks
Some knockout artists rely heavily on explosiveness, which also exposes them to counter shots. Belal’s low-risk style means:
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He rarely gets hit cleanly
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He rarely loses rounds
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He’s almost never out of position
This is part of why he has been one of the most consistent welterweights for years.
A Quick Look at Some of Belal’s Knockout Wins
Even though Belal isn’t known for huge one-punch KOs, he does have some important striking finishes. A standout example is:
✔️ TKO Win vs Sean Brady (UFC 280, October 2022)
This finish turned a lot of heads.
Sean Brady came in undefeated, and many expected him to out-grapple Belal. Instead, Belal used crisp boxing combinations and pressure to push Brady against the cage and land a barrage of punches that forced the referee to jump in.
This was a signature moment — proof that when Belal chooses to sit down on his punches, he can end fights.
Earlier in his career, several of his TKO wins came from overwhelming pressure, ground-and-pound, or catching opponents off-balance with well-timed shots.
⚖️ What Belal’s Knockout Count Says About Him
Let’s break it down simply.
He’s not a knockout artist — he’s a problem.
A fighter who:
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Dictates pace
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Neutralizes strengths
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Has elite conditioning
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Wins the mental battle
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Rarely gets tired
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Rarely gets finished
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Keeps improving year after year
His limited knockout count is not a weakness. It’s a reflection of a fighter who relies on strategy and consistency, not raw power.
In many ways, this style is more reliable long-term. Fighters who depend on knockout power often decline faster with age. Belal’s game is built to last.
What It Means for the Rest of His Career
As Belal continues to face top-5 welterweights, his knockout rate may or may not increase. But that doesn’t matter as much as people think.
What does matter?
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His ability to shut down elite opponents
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His cardio advantage over almost anyone
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His adaptability and discipline
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His experience in five-round fights
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His mental toughness
Belal’s path to victory has always been through control and pressure. And as he continues to evolve — especially if he leans more into striking as he claims — we might actually see more knockouts later in his career.
But even if we don’t, his style is still championship-level, as we’ve already seen.
Final Answer
Belal Muhammad has knocked out 5 opponents in his MMA career.
But that number doesn’t define him.
Belal is one of the most well-rounded, durable, and intelligent fighters in the welterweight division — a fighter who wins through skill, discipline, pressure, and calculated strategy. His knockout count is simply one part of a much bigger story.
