Tag: belal muhammad

Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

Georges St-Pierre’s esteemed head coach, Firas Zahabi, recently showered accolades on Belal Muhammad for his tenacious performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. “Remember the Name” dethroned the defending UFC welterweight champion last weekend at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom. This highly anticipated bout was their second encounter, following their initial fight […]

Continue Reading Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’ at MMA News.

Georges St-Pierre’s esteemed head coach, Firas Zahabi, recently showered accolades on Belal Muhammad for his tenacious performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304.

“Remember the Name” dethroned the defending UFC welterweight champion last weekend at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom. This highly anticipated bout was their second encounter, following their initial fight in March 2021, which concluded in a no-contest due to an accidental eye-poke that prevented Muhammad from continuing past the second round.

Muhammad opened the fight with vigor, swiftly executing a takedown that showcased his superior wrestling skills. His fluid blend of takedowns and sharp boxing set the pace early on. In the second round, the American ramped up his offense, slamming “Rocky” headfirst into the canvas and seizing control of the match.

Edwards mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth round, unleashing a flurry of potent strikes. However, Muhammad closed the distance and secured another takedown, maintaining dominant control for the majority of the round. The Englishman managed to reverse the position in the final round, raining down a torrent of elbows that inflicted significant damage on Muhammad’s nose, but his relentless assault wasn’t enough to sway the judges’ scorecards in his favor.

The official scores of the fight were 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, decisively naming “Remember the Name” as the new UFC welterweight champion.

Zahabi believes that Muhammad deployed an impressive array of techniques against Edwards…

Zahabi Credits Muhammad’s Victory Over Edwards to His Self-Belief

In a recent video on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, Zahabi analyzed the title fight between Edwards and Muhammad. The esteemed MMA coach lauded the challenger, noting that overcoming a fighter like “Rocky”, known for his exceptional takedown defense, was achievable only through Muhammad’s unwavering confidence in his grappling prowess.

“His boxing was excellent, and his double leg was even better,” Zahabi said. “The way he locked it up, the way he had his back straight, stunning performance. That’s no easy fight. Leon Edwards ain’t no easy fight. Colby Covington couldn’t take him down. Colby Covington, the guy who’s been wrestling his entire life, the guy who was supposed to be the top wrestler in the UFC, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do it. How come Belal was taking him down over and over again with such belief? Belal has so much belief in his takedowns.”

Zahabi went on to highlight how “Remember the Name” has improved his skillset to an entirely new level since his first fight against Edwards.

“That’s a very different Belal Muhammad. I think Leon Edwards really underestimated Belal Muhammad. I really think he underestimated him, which was a huge mistake because Belal has really improved in the last three years. He was a great fighter then; he’s a much better fighter now.”

With his recent victory, Muhammad extended his impressive unbeaten streak to 11 consecutive fights in the Octagon.

Although the Chicago native hasn’t yet named an opponent for his first title defense, Shavkat Rakhmonov stands out as the most likely contender.

Continue Reading Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’ at MMA News.

Old Video Shows Belal Muhammad’s Eerily Accurately Prediction Of How He Would ‘Break’ Leon Edwards At UFC 304

Belal Muhammad became the UFC welterweight champion this past weekend after convincingly beating Leon Edwards as the underdog. Many expected that the champion would defend his title on home soil based on what we have seen from both men in their previous fights. Whilst Muhammad has been able to dominate opponents with his constant pressure […]

Continue Reading Old Video Shows Belal Muhammad’s Eerily Accurately Prediction Of How He Would ‘Break’ Leon Edwards At UFC 304 at MMA News.

Belal Muhammad became the UFC welterweight champion this past weekend after convincingly beating Leon Edwards as the underdog.

Many expected that the champion would defend his title on home soil based on what we have seen from both men in their previous fights.

Whilst Muhammad has been able to dominate opponents with his constant pressure and wrestling, this is something that “Rocky” has been able to deal with as of late.

However, in an old video that has recently resurfaced, Muhammad broke down why his fight with Edwards would be different to the ones the Brit had with Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.

Belal Muhammad Correctly Predicts Multiple Aspects Of UFC 304 Title Shot Before It Was Made Official

Speaking in an interview with MMA Fighting, Muhammad very accurately predicted what would happen in the main event of UFC 304 long before that date was confirmed.

He spoke about where he believes Edwards is beatable and why his style would be able to capitalize on what Usman and Covington couldn’t.

Muhammad also gave his take on Edwards’ corner which ended up being very similar to what happened this past weekend.

“When you look at stylistically of why they thought Colby would be a bad match-up for him, it was cardio, it was pressure, it was taking him down, keeping volume in his face and I do all those better than Colby. I do all those better than Usman. Usman in that third fight, he wasn’t the same Usman. People can say whatever they want. I think he came back too soon for that head kick.

“But in that second fight, it was volume, pressure, and it was breaking Leon and Leon’s easily broken. I think that’s why when you see in between rounds, his coaches, his team, they’re all like, they’re not giving him advice right? They’re not telling him, ‘Oh yes, on the outside jab.’ No, they’re like, ‘You’re looking beautiful Leon, You’re a beast Leon, Don’t let him bully you son.’”

It was a bad night at the office for the former welterweight champion and as proven by this interview, Muhammad was able to do exactly what he intended.

“Once he starts getting on his back foot, he starts breaking. Once he stars getting taken down, he starts breaking. Once he starts getting hit, he hates it. So the last two fights that he’s had, it’s been more so let me stay on the outside, let me keep the pace at what I like it at… when I’m in there, it’s not going to be that at all.”

Read also: Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

Continue Reading Old Video Shows Belal Muhammad’s Eerily Accurately Prediction Of How He Would ‘Break’ Leon Edwards At UFC 304 at MMA News.

Stephen Thompson Gives Glowing Review Of Belal Muhammad’s Striking At UFC 304: ‘He Was Piecing Edwards Up!’ 

UFC welterweight veteran Stephen Thompson was impressed by what he saw from his former opponent Belal Muhammad on the feet this past weekend. Muhammad emerged from enemy territory with the 170-pound championship in his possession after upsetting the odds to bring Leon Edwards’ reign to a sudden halt at the UFC 304 pay-per-view. Headlining the […]

Continue Reading Stephen Thompson Gives Glowing Review Of Belal Muhammad’s Striking At UFC 304: ‘He Was Piecing Edwards Up!’  at MMA News.

UFC welterweight veteran Stephen Thompson was impressed by what he saw from his former opponent Belal Muhammad on the feet this past weekend.

Muhammad emerged from enemy territory with the 170-pound championship in his possession after upsetting the odds to bring Leon Edwards’ reign to a sudden halt at the UFC 304 pay-per-view.

Headlining the event, which played out inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, “Remember the Name” made good on his frequent vows to dominate “Rocky” in their rematch.

For large parts of their contest, Muhammad utilized his takedowns and smothering wrestling game to control Edwards. But it wasn’t just on the ground where he put in solid work.

Amid laughter regarding the challenger and his team’s striking confidence, Muhammad showed clear development in that area, and he even appeared to have the champ hurt in some exchanges.

Thompson Highlights Where Muhammad Had Surprising Striking Success Against Edwards

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Stephen Thompson broke down the UFC 304 headliner between Edwards and Muhammad round by round.

As one of the division’s top strikers, a mantle he’s long shared alongside the likes of “Rocky,” the former two-time title challenger played close attention to the standup exchanges between the pair.

In that realm, Muhammad certainly went above and beyond expectation, and “Wonderboy” puts that down to three main techniques.

“In the beginning, there was a few striking exchanges. This was something I also noticed in the third round. Three techniques, striking techniques, that really showcased Belal’s striking and really showed his dominance in this fight,” Thompson said. “Number one, Belal Muhammad’s jab. He was piecing him (Edwards) up with that jab! It was so fast. Leon Edwards had a hard time dealing with it, man.

“When Leon decided to jab back, it was the second technique that really frustrated Leon Edwards, and that was his check hook. Normally you don’t see that from the shorter opponent. … Every time Leon Edwards would jab, Belal Muhammad would come over the top of that jab with the check hook, landing that check left hook, which is super frustrating (to be on the receiving end of),” Thompson continued. “And the third technique was his uppercut. He was uppercutting the crap out of Leon Edwards the entire fight.”

Muhammad was quick to comment on his striking display in the aftermath of the UFC 304 headliner, poking fun at those who had mocked his coach’s comparison to Canelo Álvarez’s Mexican-style boxing.

“Remember the Name” will now look to showcase similar skills and development in that area when he returns to the Octagon, with the expectation being that he’ll defend the belt for the first time against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Continue Reading Stephen Thompson Gives Glowing Review Of Belal Muhammad’s Striking At UFC 304: ‘He Was Piecing Edwards Up!’  at MMA News.

Belal Muhammad Laughs at Conor McGregor’s Newest Bold Claim

Belal Muhammad Conor McGregorBelal Muhammad laughs off Conor McGregor’s newest bold claim. Conor McGregor on Belal Muhammad Conor McGregor recently took to…

Belal Muhammad Conor McGregor

Belal Muhammad laughs off Conor McGregor’s newest bold claim.

Conor McGregor on Belal Muhammad

Conor McGregor recently took to social media to claim his striking is even smoother than it was years ago. A fan posted a video of McGregor knocking out Jose Aldo and the Irishman says his striking is even better now.

After McGregor’s post, Belal Muhammad responded to it laughing at that claim as he doesn’t think the Irishman is better now than he was back then.

It was a good reply from Belal Muhammad who has taken shots at McGregor in hopes of securing the mega-fight in his first title defense.

Conor McGregor provides update on UFC return fight injury the foot is fully healed

Belal Muhammad willing to fight anyone

After Belal Muhammad became the welterweight champion at UFC 304, he says he is ready to fight anyone.

Muhammad wants to be another dominant champion and face any contender, like Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski.

“I had to get Dana White for the opportunity – he promised I would get it and he stuck to his word,” Muhammad said (via MMAJunkie). “He gave me this opportunity, so for me now it’s showing the UFC, showing Dana White and all them that I can be the best champion you have. The champion who fights all these guys. I want to be a champion like the reign of (Alexander) Volkanovski and (Israel) Adesanya where they looked at the next guy in line like, ‘Let me beat this guy.’ We never ducked anybody. We’re never ducking anybody. Point them out.”

Muhammad is 24-3 and one NC on a pro and is on an 11-fight unbeaten streak.

“Obviously on the right steroids” Colby Covington scorns Belal Muhammad in new accusations

Colby Covington and Belal MuhammadThe US-born Colby Covington has had some impact words for the newly crowned welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. In a…

Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad

The US-born Colby Covington has had some impact words for the newly crowned welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. In a recent interview, Covington scorned Muhammad and accused him of taking steroids.

Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad

Colby Covington has thrice attempted to earn UFC gold but has been unsuccessful in all of his bids. Most recently, he earned a loss against Leon Edwards in a forgettable matchup. The American-born Covington was outwrested and outstruck for five rounds. Since 2019, he has had a UFC record of 3-3.

Palestinian-American Belal Muhammad recently defeated Leon Edwards at UFC 304 to capture the UFC welterweight title. Over five rounds, ‘Remember the Name’ Muhammad was able to outstrike and outwrestle Edwards live from Machester, England. Muhammad is now unbeaten in his last eleven bouts in the UFC’s competitive welterweight division, going back to 2019.

Colby Covington
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 14: Colby Covington is seen on stage during the UFC 296 press conference at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Always attempting to be controversial and outspoken, Colby Covington may be best known for his actions outside the octagon rather than in it. Most recently, in an interview with Submission Radio, Covington said, “I think I think it’s a one-and-done type thing. You know, he’s obviously on the right steroids right now. He’s doing the right cycles. So you know he had a one-night, lightning-in-a-bottle type performance. He’s the supposed paper champ right now, but no one cares, he doesn’t draw flies to sh*t. So it’s not like he’s going to make any money with that belt. He’s going to do as he’s told. And yeah, I think he will be one-and-done.”

“I don’t think anything special of Sh*t Rat,” Covington added. “I think that the way he fights, he fights very tall, very high up, chin up in the air. He almost got knocked out by the bus boy from Outback that’s serving Blooming Onions, Geoff Neal.”

“He got exposed in that fight and then he fought No. 9 ‘Wonderboy’ last fight,” said Covington, “I don’t know how that warrants a title shot. He’s finished a lot of nobodies, some jabronis from the amateur Indian casinos. He hasn’t fought top contenders yet, so I don’t know what to expect for him. There’s a lot of unknowns, but I know that I have the skill set to beat anybody in the world.” [H/t MMA Mania]

Leon Edwards’ Coach Slams US Timing For UFC 304 Title Fight: ‘It’s A Joke!’ 

Leon Edwards’ coach was seemingly far from pleased to see his man attempting to defend the UFC welterweight title at 5:30 AM this past weekend. Edwards put his gold on the line on home soil for the second consecutive year, making the walk in Manchester, England, 16 months on from his first successful defense at […]

Continue Reading Leon Edwards’ Coach Slams US Timing For UFC 304 Title Fight: ‘It’s A Joke!’  at MMA News.

Leon Edwards’ coach was seemingly far from pleased to see his man attempting to defend the UFC welterweight title at 5:30 AM this past weekend.

Edwards put his gold on the line on home soil for the second consecutive year, making the walk in Manchester, England, 16 months on from his first successful defense at the expense of Kamaru Usman in London.

After adding Colby Covington’s name to his résumé last December, “Rocky” returned to the cage in the UK to headline UFC 304. But unlike his last outing at The O2, the Jamaican-born Brit’s third defense didn’t come in local time.

Edwards competed at gone 5 AM in the morning as the promotion staged its Manchester return at the Co-op Live with the usual American timings. The champ was ultimately dethroned, with Belal Muhammad putting on a largely dominant display to capture the belt.

Talk of the US timings remained prominent throughout the event and in the aftermath, and Edwards suggested that he had struggled to adapt. His coach was also among those frustrated with the unnecessary demands placed on home fighters such as the now-former welterweight kingpin…

Edwards’ Coach On UFC 304 Timing: ‘Belal Never Had To Adjust!’

During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Lovell reflected on his man’s defeat in Manchester, which marked Edwards’ first setback inside the cage since a decision loss to Kamaru Usman way back in 2015.

When asked whether the UFC 304 timings played a part, Lovell let his feelings known on the decision not to accommodate for European fans and the local fighters.

“You tell me (how much of an impact it had). Whichever fighter have you seen in his home country come out at half past 5, 5 AM in the morning, to fight?” Lovell said. “Realistically, it’s a joke really.

“Belal never really had to adjust because his clock is set to the times of what we were fighting to. But Leon, in his home country, had to adapt as if he was acclimatizing, as if he was fighting in another country and fighting at 5:30 in the morning,” Lovell continued. “It just doesn’t seem right somehow.”

Edwards and his team will now look forward to his pursuit of two-time status. With an immediate trilogy fight opposite new champ Muhammad appearing off the table, coach Lovell named Ian Garry as his preferred next opponent for “Rocky.”

“Remember the Name,” meanwhile, will be focused one establishing his reign and legacy at 170 pounds. In the eyes of man, that should begin with a first defense against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Continue Reading Leon Edwards’ Coach Slams US Timing For UFC 304 Title Fight: ‘It’s A Joke!’  at MMA News.