Belal Muhammad is preparing for a fight against Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Fight Night 278 on June 6 in Las Vegas. He has voiced concerns regarding their shared manager, Ali Abdelaziz, claiming that he is protecting Kamaru Usman, a high-profile fighter in Abdelaziz's stable. Muhammad suspects that Usman, who is 38 and nearing the end of his career, is avoiding difficult matchups while waiting for a favorable opportunity to reclaim a title shot. Usman had previously expressed interest in challenging Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title, but Muhammad doubts he will get that chance anytime soon. Instead, Usman is now considering a move to the middleweight division, where Muhammad believes he could face less formidable opponents like former champion Dricus Du Plessis.