Top welterweight contender, Belal Muhammad, is viewing his matchup with former UFC title challenger, Gilbert Burns as a championship fight.
Muhammad spoke with reporters at the UFC 288 media day on Wednesday in Newark, New Jersey ahead of his co-main event bout on Saturday night against Burns and discussed why he requested the fight be a five-rounder, as he views it as a showcase between the two best fighters in the promotion's 170-pound division.
"Because it's a championship fight to me," Muhammad said. "The winner of this fight is fighting for the belt. I think this fight could be a title fight right here. So I wanted to have that feel. I wanted to have that championship feel. I wanted to make it feel like this is my title shot. I want it to be that big. This fight is that big. This fight should be for a title. We're the two best welterweights in the division I think, and Saturday night it should be for the title. In my head, in my mind, this is the biggest fight of my life."
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