Leon Edwards has not forgotten about Belal Muhammad. The former welterweight champion is preparing for his return at UFC London, but in the middle of it all, he delivered a subtle reminder to the man who dethroned him. Edwards may have lost their UFC 304 fight, but he believes it does not indicate Muhammad was the better fighter—only that he had an off night. Now, as he sharpens his skills for his comeback, he is prepared for more than simply Sean Brady. He is building the groundwork for something bigger. So, what exactly did Leon Edwards say? Let’s find out.
Since falling to Muhammad, Edwards has made one thing clear: he wants to fight back. The loss hurt, not only because it cost him the title, but also because he doesn’t think it accurately reflected his talent level. In a video posted to his YouTube account, Edwards reiterated his opinion, dismissing the notion that ‘Remember the Name’ was simply the better fighter that night. He said, “I’d love to run it back with Belal, you know. I feel like it’s difficult to say he wins. Like I said, I’d probably prefer Belal because he was the last guy to defeat me. Even though I had a hard night, I feel like that’s when I need to get back.” He further added, “I truly believe I’m the better fighter between me and him. I’ll go out there and prove it again.”
‘Rocky’ has now framed it as just another task to overcome, much like when he astonished the world by defeating Kamaru Usman. However, unlike his previous bout with Usman, this loss occurred when he had everything to lose, making it even more difficult to swallow. But before he can talk about revenge, Edwards must attend to business in London. Sean Brady, an unbeaten fighter known for his ferocious grappling game, stands in his way. Edwards understands that this is not a fight to be taken lightly. He added, “But now I’m focusing on Sean. I’m focusing on Sean Brady right now. I’ll go out there in London, get rid of him. Once I get rid of him, then the title shot is next for me.”
It appears that for Leon Edwards, reclaiming his throne isn’t enough; he also wants to clear the air about who the better fighter is. After all, Edwards built his career on being the biggest underdog in his fights. So, he doesn’t consider Muhammad as the stronger fighter but more as someone who took advantage of a rare bad night. If he defeats Brady, a rematch is inevitable. And when that day arrives, Edwards intends to leave no doubt about who truly deserves to be referred to as the best welterweight in the world. However, Belal Muhammad believes otherwise.
Belal Muhammad is not too keen on facing Leon Edwards
While Leon Edwards is ready to go one-on-one against Belal Muhammad once again, the reigning welterweight champion is not too enthusiastic about his plans. With Shavkat Rakhmonov having to withdraw from UFC 315 due to injury, Edwards thought the UFC would book him to face ‘Remember the Name.’ However, the promotion decided to pair Muhammad with Jack Della Maddalena, leaving ‘Rocky’ to face Sean Brady at UFC London.
The former champion was disappointed, but he remained hopeful that a victory over Brady would earn him another opportunity at the title. But, according to Muhammad, Edwards is in for a long wait. Speaking on Michael Bisping’s “Believe You Me” podcast, Muhammad dismissed Edwards’ hopes for a rematch, suggesting that the former champion would need to spend years working his way back up the rankings. “I don’t know what Leon is thinking. Leon, you have a full three years before you can even think about getting a rematch,” Muhammad explained.
He also stated that his emphasis is on Shavkat Rakhmonov, who was originally scheduled to fight him for the belt. “I have the next guy in line anyway. I think it’s Shavkat. There’s nothing I don’t think he can do to skip Shavkat. I wouldn’t allow that to even happen with Leon.” If Edwards can get past Brady, he may push the UFC to get him a fight for the title again, but in the meantime, Muhammad appears pleased to keep his former opponent waiting. What do you think? Will Leon Edwards get the rematch he wants? Let us know in the comments.
The post “I’m a Better Fighter”- Belal Muhammad Gets a Reminder From Leon Edwards Amid UFC London Training Camp appeared first on EssentiallySports.
