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Bonfim targets Muhammad knockout using Ian Garry's blueprint at UFC Fight Night 278

Gabriel Bonfim says Ian Garry 'showed the way' to beat former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad ahead of their UFC Fight Night 278 headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old Brazilian, ranked outside the top five, believes a convincing finish could fast-track him to a title shot.

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Bonfim targets Muhammad knockout using Ian Garry's blueprint at UFC Fight Night 278
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Gabriel Bonfim has outlined a tactical blueprint to defeat former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night 278 in Las Vegas, citing Ian Garry’s recent victory over Muhammad as the model for how to break down the Egyptian-American grappler.

Bonfim, 28, enters the UFC Apex headliner with a 6-1 record inside the octagon and a professional mark of 19-1 following a knockout of Randy Brown last November. Muhammad, nine years his senior, is a 20-fight UFC veteran currently on a two-fight losing streak after losing his belt to Jack Della Maddalena.

“After he lost the belt wanting to prove himself standing up with Della Maddalena, I don’t believe he’ll come to strike with me,” Bonfim said. “After all, one of his strengths is the cage game. I think he’ll look for this game similar to what Dalby did. But I trained a lot to avoid his grappling. I think Ian Garry showed the way, breaking his game. The idea is to move around, defend takedowns, use low kicks and connect with my hard hands. My goal is always to knock him out.”

Bonfim’s most significant wins to date include that Brown knockout and a split-decision victory over former title challenger Stephen Thompson last July. He views a finish of Muhammad — currently ranked fifth at welterweight — as a potential springboard into the top five and within reach of a title opportunity.

“The division is all bunched up at the top,” Bonfim said. “Garry beat Belal, and he’s expected to be the next to fight for the title. I believe that if I win convincingly against a former champion, who is currently ranked fifth, I should either have one more fight or go straight for the title. Welterweight is probably the most difficult category in the whole UFC. Any fight is just like a title fight, so my focus now is 100% on Belal Muhammad.”

Bonfim also credited his brother Ismael, who is preparing for his own welterweight debut, as a key training partner during camp. “He helped me a lot in this camp,” Bonfim said.

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