Belal Muhammad clinched the UFC welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards, concluding UFC 304 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
Muhammad, the challenger, had a strong start in the first round, securing an early takedown that showcased his wrestling skills. His blend of takedowns and striking allowed him to gain the initial advantage.
He maintained his high-volume striking and added another takedown towards the end of the round to solidify his lead.
In the second round, Muhammad continued to leverage his grappling skills, including a notable moment when he dropped Edwards and controlled the round after taking his back.
Despite Muhammad’s dominance, Edwards came out aggressively in the fourth round. However, Muhammad managed to close the gap, take Edwards down, and spend the majority of the round in a superior position.
Edwards made a last-ditch effort in the final minute, reversing positions and delivering a flurry of elbows that cut Muhammad, ending the round on a strong note. Nonetheless, it wasn’t enough to reclaim the belt.
This victory not only marks Muhammad’s first UFC championship but also resolves their previous 2021 bout, which ended in a No Contest due to an accidental eye poke from Edwards.
Instead of an immediate rematch, Edwards fought Nate Diaz, which led to his title opportunity. He subsequently defeated Kamaru Usman twice and defended the title against Colby Covington, earning a top spot on Bleacher Report’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Meanwhile, Muhammad steadily climbed the ranks with victories over fighters like Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, and Gilbert Burns, eventually earning his title shot.
Now, as the new champion, Muhammad is aware of the emerging welterweight contenders eager to challenge him.
“I want to be the guy who has beaten every great fighter of my era, every contender they thought could defeat me,” Muhammad said in an interview with “The Schmo” (via Christopher De Santiago of Sports Illustrated). “I’m ready to face whoever the UFC puts in front of me—be it Shavkat, Ian Garry, or JDM. I’m prepared to fight anyone, even if they’re not currently scheduled.”
Shavkat Rakhmonov appears to be a leading contender for a title shot, with Jack Della Maddalena and Ian Machado Garry also in the mix.
Having worked hard to reach this position, Muhammad now faces the challenge of defending his title against the best challengers.
