UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has criticized Sean Strickland's display at UFC 312, and said his time as a middleweight contender should now be over.

Prior to his unanimous decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in Saturday’s middleweight title rematch, Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC) assured critics of his jab and teep-heavy approach to fights that things would be different, and he would lay it all on the line.

The UFC made its return to Australia on Saturday with UFC 312, which went down at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and saw two champions retain their titles.