Belal Muhammad vs Stephen Thompson — Fight recap

Belal Muhammad defeated Stephen Thompson by unanimous decision over three rounds on December 18, 2021, with referee Herb Dean officiating. Muhammad's wrestling proved decisive, landing seven of nine takedowns while controlling the fight for 11:57 of total time.

He outlanded Thompson in significant strikes, connecting on 58 of 95 attempts (61%) compared to Thompson's 19 of 32 (59%), controlling the pace through a grappling-heavy approach that neutralized Thompson's striking range. Thompson managed minimal offense, recording zero takedowns and just 52 seconds of control time, unable to establish his typical counter-striking rhythm against Muhammad's relentless pressure.

The performance solidified Muhammad's position in the welterweight rankings and demonstrated his evolution as a mixed martial artist beyond his striking roots.