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Belal Muhammad slated to serve as backup to Leon Edwards – Colby Covington title fight at uFC 296

Belal Muhammad set to serve as backup fighter to Leon Edwards and Colby Covington at UFC 296 Streaking welterweight contender, Belal Muhammad has confirmed he will serve as the official backup fighter to next weekend’s undisputed…

Streaking welterweight contender, Belal Muhammad has confirmed he will serve as the official backup fighter to next weekend’s undisputed title fight between former foe, Leon Edwards, and Colby Covington – ahead of the pair’s slated clash at UFC 296 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Muhammad, the current number two ranked division contender, has been sidelined since he landed a one-sided unanimous decision win over former title chaser, Gilbert Burns at UFC 288 back in May, extending his undefeated streak to a stunning 10 consecutive boots.

Headlining UFC 297 next weekend in his second attempted title defense, Birmingham native, Edwards makes his return to ‘Sin City’ – taking on former interim champion, Covington in a long-awaited clash between the duo.

Edwards, the undisputed welterweight champion, headlined UFC 286 back in March of this year in London, turning in a majority decision win over three-time foe and former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman in the pair’s rubber match trilogy bout.

As for Covington, the Clovis native has been sidelined since he headlined a pay-per-view event against arch-rival and former training partner, former two-time title challenger, Jorge Masvidal back in March of last year – turning in a one-sided judging win over the Floridan veteran.

Belal Muhammad set to serve as backup fighter at UFC 296

And electing to utilize a backup fighter option at UFC 296 next weekend, Illinois native, Muhammad is set to claim that slot, with the surging contender on hand to replace either Edwards or Covington if required at the final flagship event of the year.

“For me, I was training this whole time regardless just in case something happened,” Belal Muhammad told MMA Junkie. “The last two main events on the pay-per-views both got canceled, but since my last fight with Gilbert Burns, I took that one on short-notice and I was like, ‘I never want to get out of shape like this again.’ Because I was so bad before that fight and it was the hardest fight cut ever.”

“So I knew I had to be a professional from then on,” Belal Muhammad explained. “Never getting big like that again.”

Ian Garry fears for the Safety of his family heading into UFC 296: ‘I’m a little bit cautious about going to America’

Ian Garry is days away from the biggest fight of his mixed martial arts career. On December 16, Ian…

Ian Garry is days away from the biggest fight of his mixed martial arts career.

On December 16, Ian Garry will return to the Octagon for a high-stakes welterweight clash with No. 8 ranked contender Vicente Luque. However, most of the headlines concerning Garry have had nothing to do with his upcoming clash. Instead, they’ve largely focused on the drama surrounding his wife and a curiously titled book she authored more than a decade ago.

With fans and fellow fighters slamming him on social media and in interviews, Garry is being very cautious as he travels to the U.S. for his seventh appearance with the promotion.

“I’m excited for UFC 296,” Garry said speaking to TNT Sports. “I think it’s a massive card. A card with all the big names, a lot of big matchups. I’m a little bit cautious about going to America for the safety of my family with all the sh*t that’s been going on online. To protect my wife, to protect my child, to protect myself.”

Last month, reigning UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland took aim at Garry, and his wife, Layla Anna-Lee, who wrote a guidebook teaching older women how to date young athletes and celebrities. The book in question, titled How to Be a WAG, was described by Anna-Lee as satirical, but Strickland wasn’t buying it.

Strickland dubbed Anna-Lee, who is 14 years older than Garry, as a “succubus” and a “predator.” That seemingly opened the floodgates for fans online to join in on the hate, forcing ‘The Future’ to privatize his social media channels.

Sean Strickland just keeps going off on Ian Garry pic.twitter.com/VXuqb61M36

— Best MMA Moments (@XcellentMMA) December 8, 2023

Ian Garry Remains as Confident as Ever going into UFC 296

Amid all the background noise, Ian Garry was still trying to prepare for a massive fight at the UFC’s final pay-per-view of the year. Asked if all the comments and news coverage could potentially affect his performance come fight night, ‘The Future’ said:

“I’m not remotely concerned or worried about the fight. The fight’s fun. The fight’s easy for me. It’s always something I enjoy, something I love.”

Chances are, Ian Garry and Sean Strickland will cross paths at some point during the fight week festivities, or at the event itself, but for the most part, the Irishman is ready to let bygones be bygones. For now, anyway.

“The buildup to fight week I love,” Machado Garry said. “The press conferences, weigh-ins, everything. I love it. It’s energy. I thrive off it, but me not being able to react to people in person, it’s going to wind me up a little bit” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Colby Covington mocks ‘Cheater’ Leon Edwards ahead of UFC 296 fight: ‘He’s literally always drooling on himself’

Colby Covington labels Leon Edwards as a cheater ahead of their UFC 296 showdown. On December 16, Covington and…

Colby Covington labels Leon Edwards as a cheater ahead of their UFC 296 showdown.

On December 16, Covington and Edwards will square off in a contest for the UFC’s undisputed welterweight title in the main event of UFC 296 which is set to be held in the T-Mobile, Las Vegas.

Covington, a former interim champion, is a proven talent with elite cardio and wrestling – adding a solid stand-up game throughout his career. However, when someone signs to fight Covington, it’s not just his skills that will keep you preoccupied, but also his relentless, at times personal, trash talk.

‘Chaos’ has made a name for himself over the years because of his mockery and it has been no different this time around, aiming Edwards in almost every media appearance.

Colby Covington blasts ‘cheater’ Leon Edwards

Talking with All Out Fighting about his upcoming matchup, Covington took the opportunity to

As a fighter, Leon Scott is the biggest cheater the sport’s ever known,” Covington said. “I thought ‘Marty’ (Usman) was a cheater. Man, this guy makes ‘Marty’ look like a freakin’ saint. Leon is a cheater. (H/T MMA Junkie)

“He’s poking people in the eyes, kicking people in the nuts, he’s grabbing the fence,” Covington continued. “I mean, the guy’s the biggest cheater the sport’s ever seen and that’s the only way I was able to prepare for him. Just prepare for all the cheating he’s going to do.”

Edwards took on Bella Muhammad in 2021 and after wobbling Muhammad in the first, an unfortunate eye poke from Edwards left ‘Remember The Name’ unable to continue resulting in a no contest.

Covington wouldn’t stop there however, the 35-year-old would then take aim at Edwards’ intelligence and label him as a ‘waste of space’

“As a person, ‘Leon Scott,’ AKA ‘Low IQ Leon,’ what’s his grade level? What’s his level of education?” Covington asked. “I swear, that guy’s a mumbling, fumbling idiot. He’s literally always drooling on himself. As a person, I just think that that guy’s a waste of f*cking chromosomes and a waste of space.”

Who wins, Colby Covington or Leon Edwards?

Shavkat Rakhmonov eyes title fight with win over Stephen Thompson at UFC 296: Of course I’m ready’

Undefeated welterweight contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov has claimed he will “be ready” for a shot at the division’s championship following…

Undefeated welterweight contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov has claimed he will “be ready” for a shot at the division’s championship following his return to the Octagon at UFC 296 later this month, should he land a victory over former title chaser, Stephen Thompson.

Rakhmonov, who currently holds the number five ranked welterweight contender, most recently featured at UFC 285 back in March, landing an eventual third round standing rear-naked choke win over common-foe, Geoff Neal in his return to active competition.

Improving to 17-0 as a result, Rakhmonov also maintained his jaw-dropping run of consecutive finishes, landing his ninth career submission win to go with a further eight separate knockout stoppage victories.

Shavkat Rakhmonov keen on title fight after UFC 296

In the midst of a five-fight winning run since landing the Dana White-led promotion back in 2020, Rakhmonov, a former M1-Global welterweight champion, claims with a victory over Simponsvilla native, Thompson in two weeks’ time at UFC 296, will prepare him for a long-anticipated and pegged title opportunity.

“Nobody won [against] him (Stephen Thompson) in standing game, but of course, I mentioned that sometimes he missed shots,” Shavkat Rakhmonov told Morning Kombat through an interpreter during a recent interview. “I never see him lose by choke. Only one time I remember Anthony Pettis won by knockout.”

“I don’t know, it depends on what the UFC says, but I think Belal Muhammad also deserves the title shot,” Shavkat Rakhmonov explained. “As of now, he will [be] backup [for] this fight [between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington], but of course I’m ready.”

Over the course of his brief Octagon tenure, fan-faovrite Uzbekistan finisher, Rakhmonov has latched onto stunning wins over Alex Oliveira, Michel Prazeres, Carlston Harris, Neil Magny, and the above-mentioned, Neal.

Do you think Shavkat Rakhmonov can win a UFC title in the future?

UFC 296 Headliner Colby Covington slams ‘Sensitive Soy Boy’ Ian Garry in Expletive-Filled Attack

As bad as things have been for Ian Garry, they’re about to get a hell of a lot worse….

As bad as things have been for Ian Garry, they’re about to get a hell of a lot worse.

On December 16, ‘The Future’ will return to the Octagon at UFC 296 for a welterweight clash with No. 8 ranked contender Vicente Luque. But before he steps in the cage, Garry will step on the stage to take part in the pre-fight press event alongside one of the most outspoken personalities in mixed martial arts, Colby Covington.

Known for his brutal burns and scathing slams, Covington likely has a notebook of insults ready to go once he’s within earshot of the rising Irish star.

Already getting started, ‘Chaos’ shared his take on Garry’s response to all of the backlash he has been dealt over the last several weeks.

“I’ve had death threats. Bombings. People have wanted to kill me after Brazil,” Covington said during an interview with All Out Fighting. “I never turned off my social media. I never turned off my comments. Look at that little Ian Garry. He’s turning off his comments like a little f*cking sensitive soy boy.

“So, you know, he ain’t tough. He ain’t the biggest and baddest f*cking fighter in this division. That guy’s a f*cking joke. He’s a little f*cking kid.”

will Colby Covington 1-Up Sean Strickland at the expense of ian garry?

Garry’s social media channels went private shortly after UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland released a video addressing a book Garry’s wife, Layla Anna-Lee, had written more than a decade ago entitled How to Be a WAG. The guidebook of sorts advises older women on how to date and marry young athletes and celebrities. Anna-Lee has since claimed that the book was meant to be satirical, but given the fact that she is 14 years older than Garry, not everyone was buying her explanation.

Strickland took particular exception to the news, calling Anna-Lee a “succubus” and a “predator” in multiple online attacks that prompted Garry to threaten legal action against ‘Tarzan’ before limiting his audience on socials.

If Ian Garry had a hard time dealing with Sean Strickland’s insults, he’s in for a world of hurt when he steps into the same room with Colby Covington.

Paddy Pimblett Shows off shredded physique ahead of His Octagon Return at UFC 296

Paddy Pimblett is looking shredded ahead of his long-awaited return to the Octagon. A year removed from his controversial…

Paddy Pimblett is looking shredded ahead of his long-awaited return to the Octagon.

A year removed from his controversial unanimous decision win over Jared Gordon last December, ‘The Baddy’ will gun for his seventh-straight win at UFC 296 on December 16. Standing in his way will be former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, who enters the bout with six straight losses.

Fans have not seen Pimblett in action for the past year, but the Liverpudlian appears to be in impeccable shape, as seen in a brief video shared on the lightweight standout’s Instagram.

Since making his promotional debut in 2021, Paddy Pimblett has become infamous for his insane post-fight food binges that have seen him consume 8,000 calories per day and gaining upwards of 50 pounds between fights. Perhaps even more impressive than the food he could pack away was his uncanny ability to work it off in such a short period of time.

Paddy Pimblett’s Legendary Eating Binges are over

Having spent the last 12 months recovering from a foot injury sustained during his last fight, Pimblett has seemingly skipped out on his famous pig-out sessions for the most part, making his weight cut going into UFC 296 a much more streamlined experience.

In an interview with SLOTHBOXX, Pimblett indicated that his days of eating an exorbitant amount of food following a big fight are largely over.

“People keep asking me, ‘Are you fighting?’ because I’m not that fat at the minute,” Pimblett said. “They say, ‘You must have a fight coming up, you lad, because you’re normally well fatter than this.’ I’m like, ‘Nah, lad. I’m just not that fat at the minute.’ People keep saying to me, ‘Lad, you’re not that heavy. You must have a fight coming up.’ I haven’t. As I’ve said before, I’ve got an eating disorder when I’m fighting, when I’m cutting weight and dieting.

“After a fight, I’ve got a bad eating disorder. At the minute, I’m not too bad because obviously I had surgery. I went to America and got fat again, then came back and had surgery. And after the surgery, my weight has just gradually come down. Now I’m just walking around at about (185 pounds) and not really watching what I’m eating. I’m just hobbling around at that weight, which is nice. I’ve plateaued around this weight. Hopefully I’ll never go above (200 pounds) again” (h/t MMA Junkie).