Belal Muhammad Takes Leon Edwards Belt

This fight was a rematch from their first encounter in 2021 when the fight ended prematurely due an incidental eye poke. Muhammad was not able to proceed on with the fight and it was ruled as a no contest.

From the opening it was clear that Muhammad was going to neutralize Edwards legs but taking him down to the ground. Initially Edwards was able to get up and start to establish himself. As soon as it look like Edwards was about to start dictating his own pace, Muhammad took him down the ground again.

The following round was practically a repeat the same. Muhammad was clearly frustrating the champion with the constant pressure of his ground game. Edwards was finally able to get a take down on the challenger down towards the end of the round.

Too little too late

The champion tried to come out more aggressive in the later rounds. But unfortunately for Edwards, everything that he threw at the challenger it came with an answer. Feeling his title slipping from his hands, Edwards put up a last stand in the final round. He opened up a cut on Muhammad’s face due to a elbow strike but at that point it was too late.

“I’m no Khabib or George St-Pierre, I’m Belal Muhammad,” Muhammad said. “I’m my own man. Now the world knows it and sees it, now they have to respect it. I’m a world champion.”

The loss ended Edwards’ 13-fight unbeaten streak, the first loss on his record in over eight years. Muhammad extended his unbeaten streak to 11.