What does the tape tell you on Brady vs Muhammad? You think Brady will be able to force the grappling and make it his fight? Because I don’t think he can do that, but we’ll see!
I wouldn’t go as far as to call Belal elusive, he’s more so just mobile and sticks to the game plan. He poses questions to his opponents - Can you cut me off? Can you stop me hitting while not getting hit? Can you hurt me or control me? And if you can’t he'll just keep moving, keep shifting and keep chipping away.
So, in terms of a style match it’s probably the most tricky one Brady has faced. The most mobile fighter he's took on, the most game plan and round aware opponent he’s faced too, but also just not a very dangerous one.
I think Belal will try to hit and move, he has the better striking overall and I think he will try to skirt the outside and dip in and out and probably kicks the body a fair bit, maintain a safe distance. I think the place Brady makes up the difference is in the clinch, the wrestling, the grappling and the physicality that he has for it.
He’s going to have to lead here if he wants to win and apply some degree of pressure, but as long as he doesn’t get completely dumbstruck by a man moving side to side with his back against the cage - and recognises that he can just go forward and step in and the risk isn’t that high because Belal is really low impact - He should be able to catch Belal often enough in space to remain competitive on the cards but then he can also find round stealing or clear round winning/dominating moments with his wrestling and grappling once inside. I think he can find his way inside in enough moments and either get good time against the cage or get the takedown and then do damage from the top.
I think Belal is playing a game of fine margins generally, out pointing his opponents, and as long as Brady fights with some level of sense and thought process he should be able to find enough striking success and make it lead to opportunities to get inside and work his A game
