UFC 236: Belal Muhammad outlasts Curtis Millender, grinds out decision win

It may have gotten off to a rocky start, but Belal Muhammad ultimately surged onward to win a decision over Curtis Millender.

Curtis Millender defeated Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 30-26), at UFC 236 on Saturday, April 13, 2019, live from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA.

Muhammad gets back in the win column three months following his loss to Geoff Neal, as Millender loses for the second time in just over a months time.

Here’s how it all went down.

Round 1

This featured fight pass prelim gets right into it immediately as Muhammad comes straight forward towards Millender, who whiffs with a spinning wheel kick. A couple of low kicks find home for Millender, followed by another before a jab from Muhammad sticks his adversary. The two welterweights stand dead center in the Octagon, and another leg kick finds the mark for Millender. Again the lead leg of Muhammad gets chopped at, but the Roufusport product returns with a jab-hook combo. Body shot finds the target for Muhammad, as we come to the halfway mark of this opening round. Combinations are being attempted to come together from both men early on, but largely are having trouble landing at an effective clip on both sides. Muhammad forces the clinch and backs Millender up against the fence with an underhook firmly in place. Muhammad begins to relentlessly fish for a single leg, but Millender displays tremendous balance in an effort to thwart the attempt by Muhammad. Stiff jab from Millender snaps the head of Muhammad back, and a leg kick to the inside of the lead leg of Muhammad has him looking a bit unsettled. A couple more stiff jabs connect from Millender, who seemingly is the winner of this opening round that draws to an anti-climactic close.

Round 2

Second round underway at 170 pounds and not long thereafter Muhammad is back in a familiar position pressing Millender against the fence. This clinch is much shorter-lived however, and the two reset back inside the center of the Octagon. Millender continues to effectively dictate the distance at which he keeps himself from the smaller party in Muhammad. Nice left hand connects from Muhammad as he closes the distance, and shortly thereafter things get interesting with Muhammad successfully converting his first takedown of this fight. Muhammad is slowly turning the tides here, and appearing to be the far fresher party in contrast to Millender looking to be fading very fast. Millender spends the remainder of the round on bottom, and Muhammad certainly evens the score at one round a piece.

Round 3

Round three begins and Muhammad certainly appears to have taken the momentum he gathered late in round two straight into round three. Muhammad closes the distance somewhat easily, and lands a left hook followed by  a right that has Millender on the back foot. Muhammad sees that Millender is losing his balance and engages in the clinch before converting the close range situation into a takedown. Halfway through the third and final round and Muhammad is cruising towards taking this fight from Millender. In what feels like a flash, Muhammad transitions right into mount. He fails to take advantage of the position, as Millender recovers half guard and appears to be completely out of gas. Muhammad ultimately gets back to mount and lands a big elbow for good measure, and Millender gives up his back in an attempt to roll over. Muhammad looks to sink in hooks, but will surely be happy with riding the remainder of a purely dominant third and final round.

UFC 236 took place on Saturday, April 13, 2019, live from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow along with FanSided MMA, who will be cageside, for all your live results and highlights throughout the week.