Belal Muhammad stunned Britain’s Leon Edwards with a dominant performance to capture the welterweight title at UFC 304 in Manchester. Muhammad out-grappled Edwards throughout the fight, earning a unanimous decision victory and ending Edwards’ impressive 12-fight win streak, much to the disappointment of the crowd at Co-op Live.
This victory came after their previous encounter in 2021 was declared a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke from Edwards. The fight began just after 05:30 BST to cater to an American audience, with Edwards noting that he felt “tired” during his post-fight interview, saying, “Not surprising, my body just felt tired from round one. All week I’ve felt tired. Congratulations to Belal, we will be back.”
The UFC event, featuring two British fighters in title bouts, was the largest ever held on English soil and the first at the 23,500-capacity arena since its opening in May. The unusual starting time of 23:00 BST led many fighters, including Edwards, to adjust their body clocks under the guidance of the UFC’s Performance Institute.
The card initially lacked exciting finishes until Paddy Pimblett energized the crowd around 04:30 BST; however, the atmosphere quickly shifted with Edwards’ defeat. Tensions from the previous bout between Edwards and Muhammad were palpable, with the American openly expressing his disdain for Edwards and accusing him of avoiding a rematch.
Entering the bout unbeaten in his last 10 fights, Muhammad embraced his role as the villain with a cheeky grin and playful banter, even making jabs about England’s Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. As he made his walkout, the crowd reacted with loud boos, which only intensified.
Edwards, the longest-reigning title holder in UFC history prior to the bout, appeared focused and confident, shadowboxing and motivating himself as he entered the octagon. Following a powerful introduction, Muhammad dashed the crowd’s excitement by securing a takedown early in the fight.
Edwards had successfully defended against notable wrestlers like Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in past title bouts, but Muhammad quickly proved to be a different challenge, out-grappling Edwards throughout the first round. Despite fans chanting “Rocky” to rally their fighter, Muhammad maintained control with effective jabs and takedown attempts.
The bout took an intriguing turn in the third round when Edwards executed a takedown and gained back control, attempting a rear-naked choke which Muhammad defended well. However, Muhammad regained the upper hand in the fourth, pressuring Edwards against the cage and executing another takedown to keep the champion grounded.
As the fight entered the final round, the crowd sensed Edwards needed a spectacular finish reminiscent of his comeback against Usman in 2022. However, Muhammad secured another takedown and controlled the fight until the end, leading to many fans leaving the arena, resigned to Edwards’ defeat.
Post-fight, Muhammad expressed his emotions, saying, “It sounds like all of the people booing have got a lot of tears coming out of their eyes. I’ve got my family in here. God first, always. This fight is for my family, my people, and for Palestine. I got the best team in the world; we study to the core, we get better.”
After suffering his first defeat since 2015, Edwards expressed his desire to return to the octagon before the end of the year. “One more this year, November or December I’m ready to go,” he stated.
Credit: BBC Sport
