Las Vegas — Brazilian welterweight Gabriel Bonfim put on a dominant performance at UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday, winning all five rounds against Belal Muhammad on the judges’ scorecards.
While Bonfim (20-1) has been known as a finisher, with his first 15 fights ending inside the distance, such a lopsided victory and sheer domination over a former champion is a feather in his cap nonetheless.
“It’s pretty awesome. I’m very happy actually that it went five rounds because I proved to people that I can fight five rounds,” Bonfim told media outlets including Cageside Press following the bout. “And no one can say anything about this. I can do it, and I love doing it.”
Bonfim is now looking to tango against another ex-champ in Jack Della Maddalena, the man who dethroned Muhammad last year (before losing the belt himself to Islam Makhachev).
“He is my next opponent because the division is kind of, there’s muddy waters up there. Everything is kind of scrambled up top,” noted Bonfim. “He’s in the top five, and I feel that he needs to be my next opponent.”
Gabriel Bonfim later told Cageside Press that there were no surprises in the fight with Muhammad at the Meta Apex on Saturday.
“Everything was according to plan. We studied this a lot, everything went the way it was supposed to be, we expected it. He didn’t surprise us with anything,” stated Bonfim. “We did expect us to get maybe an opportunity for a finish of some sort, a knockout or a submission. Everything, throughout the five rounds, frustrating his game and just winning the entire fight [was anticipated].”
Bonfim appeared to be having fun in the fight, in a different gear than his opponent. “I was more technical than he was, I was faster than he was, and I had more stamina. So I felt like I was a step ahead of everything he did,” he agreed.
The Brazilian is now hoping to land the JDM fight towards the end of 2026. “November-December, I’ll be ready to fight him.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 118 post-fight press conference with Gabriel Bonfim above.
