Tag: belal muhammad

Belal Muhammad: Leon Edwards Gets ‘Too Much Credit’ For Kamaru Usman Wins 

UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad was seemingly not too impressed by Leon Edwards’ title win and successful defense against Kamaru Usman. Muhammad will mark the latest challenger in the reign of Edwards this weekend, with the pair set to run it back in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view at the Co-op Live arena […]

Continue Reading Belal Muhammad: Leon Edwards Gets ‘Too Much Credit’ For Kamaru Usman Wins  at MMA News.

UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad was seemingly not too impressed by Leon Edwards’ title win and successful defense against Kamaru Usman.

Muhammad will mark the latest challenger in the reign of Edwards this weekend, with the pair set to run it back in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

While the champion has dismissed talk of bad blood between the pair, “Remember the Name” has been open in expressing his disdain for his rival ahead of his opportunity to dethrone him in enemy territory.

More than just a personal hatred for “Rocky,” Muhammad has frequently attempted to take away from his achievements on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

During UFC 304 fight week, that’s included branding both of Edwards’ wins over the great Usman as unimpressive…

Muhammad Insists His Strength Of Schedule Trumps Edwards’

During a fight week interview for UFC.com, Muhammad looked ahead to his long-awaited first title shot and assessed the man at the expense of whom he’s tasked with winning the belt.

The challenger has long questioned Edwards’ own path to the championship en route to facing Usman in 2022. But in his latest remarks, Muhammad even downplayed his last-gasp knockout of “The Nigerian Nightmare” to capture gold and subsequent five-round win over the ex-champ to defend it in their trilogy fight.

“I’ve had the harder journey,” Muhammad said. “He’s fought Nate Diaz, who is a lightweight. Then he got the Usman fighter, getting beat up and threw a Hail Mary, caught him with it. And then the third fight with Usman wasn’t the same Usman. I think people give Leon a little bit too much credit. I don’t think Usman was the same person. And then the Colby (Covington) fight, I don’t even consider that a fight. Both guys suck.

“Not impressed at all. It’s impressive that he found that needle in a haystack to catch Usman with that kick. But other than that, I think I’ve fought and had to go through tougher tests than him,” Muhammad continued. “I’ve showed more in my fights than he’s showed in his.”

Muhammad will look to prove that he’s a bigger threat to Edwards than both Covington and Usman when the cage door closes behind him and the champ at UFC 304 on Saturday night.

Continue Reading Belal Muhammad: Leon Edwards Gets ‘Too Much Credit’ For Kamaru Usman Wins  at MMA News.

UFC 304 Results & Highlights: Belal Muhammad Decisions Leon Edwards

UFC 304 took place tonight from the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!  In the main event, Leon Edwards put his welterweight title on the line against Belal Muhammad. While in the co-main event, heavyweight interim champ Tom Aspinall took on Curtis Blaydes.  UFC […]

Continue Reading UFC 304 Results & Highlights: Belal Muhammad Decisions Leon Edwards at MMA News.

UFC 304 took place tonight from the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

In the main event, Leon Edwards put his welterweight title on the line against Belal Muhammad. While in the co-main event, heavyweight interim champ Tom Aspinall took on Curtis Blaydes. 

UFC 305 Results: Main Card

  • Welterweight Championship Main Event: Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards via unanimous decision (48-47×2, 49-46)
  • Interim Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event: Tom Aspinall def. Curtis Blaydes via KO: R1, 1.00
  • Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett def. King Green via submission: R1, 3.22  
  • Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy Duncan via unanimous decision (30-27×3) 
  • Featherweight: Arnold Allen def. Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

Preliminary Card

  • Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood def. Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision (29-27×2, 29-28)
  • Women’s Strawweight: Bruna Brasil def. Molly McCann via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
  • Bantamweight: Jake Hadley def. Caolán Loughran via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
  • Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev def. Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)

Early Preliminary Card

  • Welterweight: Oban Elliott def. Preston Parsons via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)
  • Light Heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio via submission: R3, 3.12
  • Welterweight: Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie via submission: R1, 2.50
  • Heavyweight: Mick Parkin def. ?ukasz Brzeski via TKO: R1, 3.23  
  • Women’s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon def. Alice Ardelean via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

Preliminary Card Highlights

Mick Parkin def. ?ukasz Brzeski

Mick Parkin made it four wins in a row in the UFC with a first-round TKO of ?ukasz Brzeski in their heavyweight bout.

Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie

In this welterweight bout, Sam Patterson submitted Kiefer Crosbie with an arm triangle in the first round.

Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio

Modestas Bukauskas got it done via submission against Marcin Prachnio in the third round of their light heavyweight matchup.

Main Card Highlights

Arnold Allen def. Giga Chikadze

In this featherweight bout, Arnold Allen earned a unanimous decision win against Giga Chikadze.

Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy

In this middleweight bout, Gregory Rodrigues earned a unanimous decision win against Christian Leroy.

Paddy Pimblett def. King Green

Paddy Pimblett kept his UFC unbeaten streak alive after submitting King Green with a triangle choke in the first round of their lightweight contest.

Tom Aspinall def. Curtis Blaydes

In the co-main event, Tom Aspinall retained his interim heavyweight title with a KO of Curtis Blaydes after just one minute of action.

Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards

In the main event, Belal Muhammad clinched the welterweight title with a unanimous decision against Leon Edwards.

Continue Reading UFC 304 Results & Highlights: Belal Muhammad Decisions Leon Edwards at MMA News.

Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad elevator meeting breakdown ahead of UFC 304 main event

Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad UFC 304Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad went down ahead of their UFC 304 main event meeting, some of the action…

Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad UFC 304

Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad went down ahead of their UFC 304 main event meeting, some of the action happened in the elevator. The two welterweights shared a few words with their teams at the fighter hotel.

Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad and the UFC 304 Elevator

At the fighter hotel, the elevator seems to be a hot spot for fighters to run into one another. Most notably, the UFC 304 headlining fighters, Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad, got into a small altercation. The two athletes broke down what they believe happened from their own point of view.

Leon Edwards explained:

“I was going up to floor three, [the elevator] opened and he was standing right there in front. I think he thought in his head that I wouldn’t come into the lift so I walked straight into the lift and said, ‘Press No. 3,’ and that was it.” H/T MMA Fighting

“It was weird because in the lift he was mad quiet, and then after the lift opened and everyone’s outside, he’s like, ‘Oh p*ssy, blah, blah, blah.’ Like bro, why didn’t you say all this in the lift? I don’t know.”

Belal Muhammad added his side of the perspective:

“I just heard a little short freaking midget screaming something, and I was like, ‘What the heck was that?’ I saw it ended up being his coach in front, but Leon and his team didn’t say nothing.”

“His brother was trying to give me a dirty look, but he didn’t know I was sizing him up for after the cage, if he ends up hopping in the cage wanting to do something.”

The two fighters met once before but ended inconclusively with a no contest due to an inadvertent eye poke. Now, the UFC 304 main event will see Belal Muhammad look to take the title off of the division king ‘Rocky’ Leon Edwards.

Watch Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad UFC 304 elevator incident:

Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad UFC 304

UFC 304 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Edwards vs. Muhammad 2, Aspinall vs. Blaydes 2, Green vs. Pimblett, & More

UFC 304 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup. The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, July 27, at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 […]

Continue Reading UFC 304 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Edwards vs. Muhammad 2, Aspinall vs. Blaydes 2, Green vs. Pimblett, & More at MMA News.

UFC 304 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup.

The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, July 27, at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards, who is tasked with getting the better of Belal Muhammad at the second time of trying if he’s to successfully defend his title on home soil once again.

Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another English champ in action as interim heavyweight kingpin Tom Aspinall runs it back with Curtis Blaydes. Their second clash comes two years on from an injury rendering the Brit unable to continue after just 15 seconds at the London-held UFC Fight Night in July 2022.

Also set to make the walk on Saturday night will be the likes of lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett and his teammate Molly McCann, another home favorite in Arnold Allen, and the undefeated Muhammad Mokaev.

Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 304 main card here.

UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 Betting Odds

Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 304 (as of 7/27), courtesy of DraftKings.

Main Card:

  • Leon Edwards (-265) vs. Belal Muhammad (+215)
  • Tom Aspinall (-395) vs. Curtis Blaydes (+310)
  • King Green (-115) vs. Paddy Pimblett (-105)
  • Christian Leroy Duncan (-135) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (+114)
  • Arnold Allen (-238) vs. Giga Chikadze (+195)

Preliminary Card:

  • Nathaniel Wood (-380) vs. Daniel Pineda (+300)
  • Molly McCann (-345) vs. Bruna Brasil (+275)
  • Caolán Loughran (-225) vs. Jake Hadley (+185)
  • Modestas Bukauskas (-155) vs. Marcin Prachnio (+130)

Early Preliminary Card:

  • Oban Elliott (+136) vs. Preston Parsons (-162)
  • Muhammad Mokaev (-185) vs. Manel Kape (+154)
  • Sam Patterson (-440) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (+340)
  • Mick Parkin (-455) vs. ?ukasz Brzeski (+360)
  • Shauna Bannon (-180) vs. Alice Ardelean (+150)

Continue Reading UFC 304 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Edwards vs. Muhammad 2, Aspinall vs. Blaydes 2, Green vs. Pimblett, & More at MMA News.

Sean Strickland compares Belal Muhammad to a terrorist

Sean Strickland compares Belal Muhammad to a terroristSean Strickland may have taken things a little too far in his rivalry with UFC 304 headliner Belal Muhammad….

Sean Strickland compares Belal Muhammad to a terrorist

Sean Strickland may have taken things a little too far in his rivalry with UFC 304 headliner Belal Muhammad.

Crossing the line is pretty much Strickland’s official brand at this point, but fight fans weren’t exactly thrilled with his latest dig at Muhammad on social media.

Sean Strickland

“Belal looks like why I have to take my shoes off in airports…..” Strickland commented on Instagram.

While ‘Remember The Name’ hasn’t responded to the ill-advised comment, Strickland drew the ire of users on both Instagram and X, many of them condemning the “disgusting” statement.

“Sean Strickland implying Belal Muhammad is a terrorist simply because he’s Muslim. Disgusting & despicable behavior but I wouldn’t expect any less & you know a large swath of the MMA community will cheerlead this behavior,” one user wrote.

Sean Strickland

Another noted how Strickland had nothing to say about another Muslim fighter—Islam Makhachev—while sitting next to him during the UFC 302 press conference in June.

“It’s funny how Sean didn’t [say] anything like that when he was sitting next to Islam at the press conference. He went backstage and said it in one-on-one interviews.”

Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland and Belal Muhammad trade barbs following UFC P.I. encounter in 2023

Strickland and Muhammad have taken jabs back and forth over the years, but things seemed to escalate last year when ‘Tarzan’ shared a video online that featured Muhammad training in the background. Strickland labeled the top-ranked welterweight ‘thunder thumbs’ in the clip, which you can see below:

Unenthused by Strickland’s antics, Belal Muhammad issued a response shortly after, telling the former middleweight champ that he’s simply “not that guy.”

“This guy’s trying to act tough again on social media. Looking for clout chasing, trying to get views for a podcast,” Muhammad said. “I offered to fight you. You turned it down. You putting out this video of you recording from a distance, muttering under your breath, thunder thumbs, which is not even clever. Your racist hillbilly fans are saying ‘Oh man you’re a beast’, ‘you’re a man’, look how crazy he is.

“But look at the distance. It’s like someone recording a lion in the wild. You stay at a safe distance. You don’t get into the danger zone. You didn’t get into the danger zone. Just stop this. You’re not that guy. You’re more of like an emo Peewee Herman.”

Strickland snapped back, welcoming a fight with Muhammad anytime, anywhere.

“Man, you guys believe this f*cking clown? Lmao ok p*ssy tomorrow 11am,” he wrote. “Gloves, no gloves idc….”

Sean Strickland

As far as we know, that encounter never happened, but if Belal Muhammad manages to defeat Leon Edwards for the welterweight title in Manchester, perhaps we’ll see Strickland move up and try to settle things with ‘Bully B’ inside the Octagon.

UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

UFC 304 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins! The upcoming pay-per-view event at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena provides a chance for UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. After recording a successful defenses […]

Continue Reading UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream at MMA News.

UFC 304 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

The upcoming pay-per-view event at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena provides a chance for UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

After recording a successful defenses at the expense of Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in 2023, “Rocky” will look to settle unfinished business with Belal Muhammad after their 2021 UFC Fight Night headliner ended in a no contest.

Title stakes also come in the co-main event, which will see Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall back in action. He defends the strap he captured with a brutal knockout of Sergei Pavlovich last November in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes.

Elsewhere on the UFC 304 card, Paddy Pimblett gets his first shot at the lightweight rankings opposite King Green, flyweight standouts Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape attempt to stake their claim for a shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s gold, and Arnold Allen plans to get back on track in the featherweight division at the expense of Giga Chikadze.

Ahead of the event, 27 out of the 28 fighters successfully made weight, with Jake Hadley’s one-pound miss of the bantamweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale.

Nevertheless, every fight has remained intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 304 ceremonial weigh-ins!

Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 2 PM ET.

UFC 304 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

Continue Reading UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream at MMA News.