Belal Muhammad won't be doing Leon Edwards any favors after winning the title at UFC 304.
The first bout between the two in March 2021 ended in a no contest due to an accidental eye poke by Edwards (21-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC), but the rematch on Saturday in Manchester, England, ended in a very different way, with Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) being crowned the welterweight champion via unanimous decision.
It was an uphill battle for the 36-year-old Muhammad to get the chance to end rumors that he would lose the first bout before the fight was stopped for foul play, but he took advantage of the opportunity when it arose and grabbed the belt.
UFC CEO Dana White I dismissed the idea of returning. The bout follows UFC 304. Muhammad completely agrees that it makes absolutely no sense, and “Rocky” will need to rack up some wins if he wants to redeem himself.
“I'm giving him a chance for a rematch in three years,” Edwards told reporters at the post-fight press conference at UFC 304. “I want him to come back. I thought it was a dominant fight. There's no need for a rematch. And I don't think he's been champion long enough to deserve a rematch. I came to his hometown, in front of his people, on enemy territory. It was all a layup for him, and I blocked it.”
Despite beating Edwards, Muhammad has made it clear he has no intention of being a champion who picks his fights. His main goal is to build a legacy that eclipses the GOAT of the division, Georges St-Pierre, and to do that he wants to eliminate anyone he sees as a threat to his dominance.
“I had to fight Dana White to get this opportunity. He promised me he'd give me a chance and he kept his promise,” Muhammad said. “He gave me this opportunity, so now for me it's about showing UFC, showing Dana White and everybody that I can be the best champion — a champion that can fight all of these guys.”
“I want to be a champion like in the days when (Alexander) Volkanovski and (Israel) Adesanya were dominant. They were looking at the next guy and being like, 'Let me beat this guy.' We didn't shy away from anybody. We never shy away from anybody. We call them out.”
For more on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC 304 event hub.
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