Tag: belal muhammad

Breaking – Leon Edwards set to headline UFC 304 in title fight rematch with Belal Muhammad in Manchester

Leon Edwards set to headline UFC 304 in title fight rematch with Belal Muhammad in ManchesterUndisputed welterweight champion, Leon Edwards is officially scheduled to headline UFC 304 on July 27. from the Co-op Live…

Leon Edwards set to headline UFC 304 in title fight rematch with Belal Muhammad in Manchester

Undisputed welterweight champion, Leon Edwards is officially scheduled to headline UFC 304 on July 27. from the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England – defending his crown in a rematch against the surging, Belal Muhammad.

Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 296 back in December, landing a one-sided unanimous decision win over arch-rival, former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington. The victory came as Edwards’ second as defending titleholder.

Leon Edwards confirms he will fight at UFC 300 I will defend my title in April in Las Vegas
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

As for Muhammad, the current number two ranked contender has been sidelined since he co-headlined UFC 288 back in May of last year, earning a title fight with a unanimous decision win over Gilbert Burns over the course of five rounds.

Leon Edwards set to headline UFC 304 against Belal Muhammad

Leon Edwards issues warning to Colby Covington he's in for a total shock at UFC 296
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

UFC CEO, Dana White confirmed the pairing of Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad would headline UFC 304 on his official social media this evening.

First meeting back in 2021 in the main event of UFC Vegas 21, Edwards and Muhammad fought to a second round official ‘No Contest’, after an inadvertent eye poke left the latter unable to continue fighting.

Belal Muhammad, Leon Edwards
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Since then, Illinois native, Muhammad has turned in notable consecutive victories over the likes of Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, Sean Brady, and the above-mentioned, Burns.

Snatching undisputed welterweight gold from former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman back in the summer of 2022 with a highlight-reel, rallying fifth round high-kick KO win, Edwards would defeat the Auchi native in London last year in a close majority decision victory in the pair’s trilogy rubber match. 

UFC 304 takes place on July 27. from the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England – with the undisputed welterweight title fight between Edwards and Muhammad slated to take headlining honors.

Who wins atop UFC 304: Leon Edwards or Belal Muhammad?

Colby Covington welcomes clash with Belal Muhammad in UFC return: ‘I would be super intrigued by that fight’

Colby Covington eyes fight with Belal Muhammad in UFC return I would be super intriguedAmid continued links to a UFC 303 return at the end of June in a clash with the unbeaten,…

Colby Covington eyes fight with Belal Muhammad in UFC return I would be super intrigued

Amid continued links to a UFC 303 return at the end of June in a clash with the unbeaten, Ian Garry, former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington has instead switched lanes and now wants to fight surging contender, Belal Muhammad in a five round title eliminator.

Covington, a former interim welterweight gold holder and the current number four ranked division contender, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 296 back in December of last year.

Colby Covington claims he's still the best welterweight on earth despite loss at UFC 296
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

And failing in his third attempt to become an undisputed champion, Clovis native, Covington suffered a one-sided unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards – a bout he hopes to avenge in the future. 

Colby Covington claims he suffered fractured foot 30 seconds into UFC 296 fight I have pictures on my phone
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

As for Muhammad, the streaking Illinois native has been out of action since his short-notice decision win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 288 back in May of last year, earning him the number two rank in the division.

Colby Covington eyes fight with Belal Muhammad

And amid calls from Portmarnock native, Garry that Covington is avoiding a clash with him – as recent at UFC 301 last weekend, the former has switched his focus to a fight with the above-mentioned, Muhammad.

“Maybe this kid (Belal) Muhammad, who’s been talking a lot,” Colby Covington told The Rush during a recent interview. “He’s up there in the rankings above me. So, I think if I beat that guy, it gets me right back to a title fight. I don’t know, anybody. I could fight Joe Schom off the street and I’m going to be get the same paycheck. It’s going to be a high-level fight. Every time I get on the mic you know I’m going to sell that sh*t to the moon.”

“In a five round fight – I would be super intrigued with that fight,” Colby Covington explained. ‘I always told them [the UFC] I want this guy in a main event. I don’t think he can last. His cardio doesn’t look that good. His last fight he fought Burns at 185 [pounds] on one weeks’ notice, and I thought Burns won the fight. He landed more strikes. …I think he’s going to get exposed soon. He doesn’t have good cardio, and he’s not as good as everybody thinks he is.” 

Belal Muhammad set to serve as backup fighter to Leon Edwards and Colby Covington at UFC 296
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

And while calling for a pairing with Muhammad, the streaking number two ranked contender has been heavily linked with a return as soon as July, in a title fight rematch against the above-mentioned Edwards at UFC 304 in Manchester. 

Who wins in a future showdown: Belal Muhammad or Colby Covington?

Robert Whittaker backs Belal Muhammad to win UFC title: ‘The uproar would be fantastic’

Robert Whittaker backs Belal Muhammad to win UFC title the uproar would be fantasticFormer UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is hopeful that Belal Muhammad can dethrone Leon Edwards and become UFC welterweight…

Robert Whittaker backs Belal Muhammad to win UFC title the uproar would be fantastic

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is hopeful that Belal Muhammad can dethrone Leon Edwards and become UFC welterweight champion.

Muhammad is expected to face Edwards next for the belt, despite him not being one of the three opponents that was offered to face the champ at UFC 300.

Belal Muhammad denied title fight with Leon Edwards at UFC 300 received no offer
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

With Muhammad likely being the next opponent for Edwards, Whittaker explained why he would be rooting for him to pull off the upset and dethrone Edwards.

“Yeah, man. The more people hate on him [Belal Muhammad], the more I like him [laughs]. It’s bringing me to his side, I love it, I love it. It’s a fight I wanna see. I wanna see Belal get the belt wrapped around him – wouldn’t that upset a lot of people. Like, the uproar would be fantastic. Not to say I want Leon to lose, because I like Leon Edwards very much. I’m just saying, it’d be a funny dynamic,” Whittaker said on his podcast (via BJPENN).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie67m9PP2T4&t=10s&ab_channel=MMArcadePodcast

Currently, Belal Muhammad vs. Leon Edwards is not booked, but all signs point to that fight happening at UFC 304 in Manchester, England.

robert Whittaker backs Belal Muhammad for gold

As for Robert Whittaker, he is set to return to the Octagon on June 22 in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia against Khamzat Chimaev.

Robert Whittaker closing as betting favorite to beat Paulo Costa at UFC 298

Whittaker is coming off a decision win over Paulo Costa back in February at UFC 298 to return to the win column after a TKO loss to Dricus Du Plessis. The Aussie is 2-2 in his last four, but UFC CEO Dana White has said his fight against Chimaev is a title eliminator fight, as the winner will get a title shot.

It’s expected that Dricus du Plessis will defend his belt against Israel Adesanya next, and the winner of that fight, will face the winner of Whittaker-Chimaev.

Do you think Belal Muhammad can strike Octagon gold this year?

Report – Belal Muhammad denied title fight with Leon Edwards at UFC 300, received no offer

Belal Muhammad denied title fight with Leon Edwards at UFC 300 received no offerSurging welterweight contender, Belal Muhammad was reportedly not in the running to fight former foe, incumbent divisional champion, Leon…

Belal Muhammad denied title fight with Leon Edwards at UFC 300 received no offer

Surging welterweight contender, Belal Muhammad was reportedly not in the running to fight former foe, incumbent divisional champion, Leon Edwards at UFC 300 in April – despite the fact the Birmingham native received up to three offers of potential opponents for the flagship card.

Muhammad, who currently sits at number two in the official welterweight rankings, is currently in the midst of a 10 fight unbeaten run, most recently turning in a one-sided unanimous decision win over former title challenger, Gilbert Burns last May in an officially billed championship eliminator over the course of five rounds.

And part of that run saw Muhammad fight to an eventual second round official ‘No Contest’ against Team Renegade BJJ & MMA staple, Edwards – after the former was struck with an inadvertent eye poke. 

Over the course of the weekend in the immediate aftermath of UFC 298, promotional boss, Dana White revealed Edwards had accepted three separate offers of differing opponents for a return at UFC 300 – ultimately to no avail.

Belal Muhammad denied title fight with Leon Edwards at UFC 300

However, despite his winning streak, history with Edwards and status in the official rankings, according to The Schmo, Illinois native, Muhammad received no offer to rematch the British champion at UFC 300 in April.

“Can confirm Belal Muhammad was NOT one of the 3 fighters offered to Leon Edwards for #UFC300.” The Schmo posted on his official X account. 

Staking his claim for a championship effort against Edwards in the form of a rematch after his win over Burns, back in December, Muhammad was denied a title fight by the incumbent gold holder – who questioned what he had done to earn a shot at his championship. 

“Nah, there are definitely other options,” Leon Edwards said after UFC 296. “I don’t feel like Belal (Muhammad) should be next. I’ve done it before. I’ve won like 10 fights and didn’t get a title shot. So, what makes him different or more privileged.”

“So, Colby’s (Covington) already skipped the line already, let’s see who’s next,” Leon Edwards explained. “But like I said, this is the ‘Rocky’ era, it’s my era now and I’ll keep reigning, whoever’s next. It doesn’t matter, they’re all similar styles anyways. All boxers and wrestlers, it’s what I’ve built my career on. So, whoever comes next, it’s whatever, you know.”

Who do you think Belal Muhammad should fight in his UFC comeback?

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Leon Edwards is ‘top choice’ for UFC 300 main event, DDP vs. Adesanya also rumored

UFC 300Ariel Helwani dropped a potential bombshell on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, revealing that the UFC is frantically…

UFC 300

Ariel Helwani dropped a potential bombshell on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, revealing that the UFC is frantically working to put together a welterweight title clash between reigning champion Leon Edwards and undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC 300 main event.

After making a series of fast and furious announcements regarding April 13th’s massive landmark event in Las Vegas, UFC CEO Dana White has gone radio silent. According to Helwani, the promotion knows which fight they want to announce for the highly anticipated headliner, but securing Chimaev’s entry into the United States is becoming increasingly difficult.

“If the UFC had their way… If they could snap their fingers and make the biggest fight in their mind happen — and the fight that they’ve been working on happen — and have their say as to what is the main event for UFC 300, I think that they would make Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev. I believe when Dana White is talking bout the hurdles and the issues, I believe that’s about securing Khamzat’s ability to fight in the United States.

“This has been rumored for quite some time that he has issues coming over to the States. The last time he fought here was in Jacksonville almost two years ago. I believe that’s been part of the holdup. If they can’t secure that matchup, I believe they would look at Khamzat vs. [Dricus Du Plessis], but I think the top choice is Leon vs. Khamzat.”

Chimaev’s struggles to obtain a temporary work visa could be related to his close relationship with the Head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov. Frequently employing totalitarian and repressive tactics in his rule, Kadyrov has come under criticism for a wide array of human rights abuses, including forced disappearance, torture, assassinations, and anti-gay purges in his country. He has also played a role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The UFC is circling multiple potential headliners for April 13

Depending on how things play out with Khamzat Chimaev, the UFC has a few contingency plans in place according to Helwani. Aside from the heavily rumored middleweight title tilt between the newly crowned king of the division — Dricus Du Plessis — and former two-time champ Israel Adesanya, the UFC is also keeping a potential 170-pound showdown between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad in its back pocket.

We will go out on a limb and say that Edwards vs. Muhammad is likely the least enticing option for both the promotion and the fans. Of course, the prospect of Khamzat Chimaev’s return to welterweight will certainly raise some eyebrows. After all, the last time he was scheduled to compete in the weight class, he stepped on the scale eight pounds over the limit.

Which potential headliner would you most be excited to see at UFC 300?

Belal Muhammad draws comparisons to Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of UFC 300 fight: ‘He’s the closest person to him’

Belal Muhammad compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov dominance ahead of UFC 300 he's the closest to himExpected to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 300 in April in a championship rematch with undisputed…

Belal Muhammad compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov dominance ahead of UFC 300 he's the closest to him

Expected to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 300 in April in a championship rematch with undisputed gold holder, Leon Edwards, surging welterweight contender, Belal Muhammad has been compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov – in terms of the pair’s wrestling styles, in particular.

Muhammad, the current number two ranked welterweight contender, has been teased as a potential opponent for former-foe, Edwards at UFC 300 in April – in the form of a championship rematch between the two, following an initial clash two years prior.

Earning his championship tilt back in May at UFC 288, Illinois native, Muhammad landed a dominant shutout decision win over former title chaser, Gilbert Burns over the course of five rounds, extending his unbeaten run to 10 consecutive fights. 

Belal Muhammad compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov

And ahead of his first-ever championship excursion later this opening quarter, Muhammad, who is set to train with lightweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 300, has drawn comparisons to the Russian’s coach and former lightweight titlleholder, Nurmagomedov, by former champion, Henry Cejudo.

“It’s going to be a great, competitive fight,” Henry Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “Stylistically, the way that Belal Muhammad – what he did to Gilbert Burns and how he did it to him, he’s only gotten better. I will say this: The closest person to a guy like Khabib Nurmagomedov, his name is actually Belal Muhammad.” 

“They do the same kind of cross steps,” Cejudo explained. “They kind of run and shoot. They do the same kind of feints with that lead hand to eventually level change for the takedown.”

And whilst Muhammad is widely expected to fight Edwards at UFC 300 later this year, speculation has been rife earlier this week regarding a potential drafting into the fold of former two-time title chaser, Jorge Masvidal – who confirmed he is “unretired” from combat sports at the beginning of this month, having called time on his tenure just 8 months ago. 

WIll Belal Muhammad land a title fight win over Leon Edwarda at UFC 300?