UFC Champion Belal Muhammad Demands Palestine Flag on His Profile

MONTREAL, Canada — UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has officially requested the promotion to add the Palestine flag to his fighter profile on the UFC website. This plea comes after fans noted the absence of the flag next to Muhammad’s name, while his fellow fighters had their national flags displayed on the site ahead of UFC 315.

In a video posted on social media Thursday, Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) expressed his concerns directly to UFC President Dana White, stating: “People keep asking me, ‘Where’s your flag?’ I kept getting multiple messages about it. I assumed it was a mistake, but it hasn’t been addressed. I hope that Dana addresses it as well and fixes it, because Dana has said he’s all about free speech.”

Born in Chicago to Palestinian parents, Muhammad has consistently highlighted his Palestinian heritage throughout his career, often draping the flag over his shoulders during ceremonial weigh-ins and showing vocal support for his homeland amidst ongoing conflicts.

As of now, all other 21 fighters competing at UFC 315, scheduled for May 10, have their flags displayed on the promotion’s website. Notably, the only other fighters without flags are debutants Ateba Gautier (Cameroon) and Ahmad Hassanzada (Afghanistan), who are also awaiting their first fight in the UFC.

The UFC had implemented a ban on displaying national flags in 2022, a decision that followed the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war. However, this policy was overturned in October 2023, allowing fighters to display their national representations once again.

White defended the reinstatement of flags, stating, “If any flags hurt your feelings, too f*cking bad.” The continual discourse surrounding flags within the promotion and the cultural sensitivities has led to many fans speculating if this context has affected Muhammad’s profile.

Muhammad, who is set to defend his title against rising contender Jack Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC), confirmed in a message to fans that White assured him the flag issue would be resolved. “I just want to give a quick shoutout to Dana,” Muhammad said in a follow-up video. “He said the flag’s back up tonight. He apologized, and that’s why I love the UFC and Dana as a promoter.”

As the fight approaches, Muhammad’s request for the Palestine flag brings attention not only to his heritage but also to the ongoing discussions regarding representation within mixed martial arts.