Belal Muhammad gained’t be doing any favors for Leon Edwards after taking his title at UFC 304.
After the primary combat between them led to March 2021 led to a no contest resulting from an by accident eye poke from Edwards (21-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC), the rematch on Saturday in Manchester, England, ended very in a different way, with Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) capturing the welterweight champion by unanimous determination.
It was a tricky slog for Muhammad, 36, to get his likelihood to finish the narratives that he was en path to dropping the primary assembly earlier than the foul halted the combat, however he took benefit when the chance got here and received maintain of the strap.
UFC CEO Dana White dismissed the concept of working again the matchup following UFC 304. Muhammad is in full settlement that it is not sensible, and “Rocky” goes to need to rack up some victories if he ever desires redemption of his personal.
“I’ll give him a rematch in three years,” Edwards instructed reporters on the UFC 304 post-fight information convention. “Let him work his manner again up. I believe it was a dominant combat – there’s actually no want for a rematch. And I don’t assume he had that lengthy reign of a champion the place he’s entitled to a rematch. For me, I got here to his hometown in entrance of his folks, in enemy territory. It was all a layup for him. However I blocked it.”
Regardless of pushing Edwards to the wayside, Muhammad make it clear he doesn’t intend to be a champion who picks his fights. He high purpose is to construct a legacy that surpasses that of the divisional GOAT, George St-Pierre, and to try this he desires to take out everybody who’s perceived as a risk to his reign.
“I needed to get Dana White for the chance – he promised I might get it and he caught to his phrase,” Muhammad stated. “He gave me this chance, so for me now it’s exhibiting the UFC, exhibiting Dana White and all them that I might be the very best champion you might have. The champion who fights all these guys.
“I wish to be a champion just like the reign of (Alexander) Volkanovski and (Israel) Adesanya the place they seemed on the subsequent man in line like, ‘Let me beat this man.’ We by no means ducked anyone. We’re by no means ducking anyone. Level them out.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 304.
Make sure to go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of combined martial arts.
