Belal Muhammad is confident in his growth as a fighter and believes he will dominate in a rematch against UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, with rumors suggesting the fight might take place at the UFC 300 card on April 13.
Belal Muhammad gets it. Three years can flip the script.
He’s eyeing a rematch with UFC welterweight champ, Leon Edwards. The last time they squared off? Well, it didn’t end well. Muhammad stepped in for Khamzat Chimaev at the last minute, only to get a thumb in the eye. The fight was declared a no contest.
Neither Muhammad nor Edwards have been defeated since then. But Muhammad’s confident. He thinks he’s changed, evolved. He’s sure Edwards is in for a shock.
“I think it will really wake people up to how good I am,” Muhammad said to MMA Fighting. He’s talking about a potential rematch with Edwards. He’s grown since their first fight. He’s leveled up.
He fought Demian Maia and improved his grappling. He fought Vicente Luque and Wonderboy, and his striking got better. Sean Brady and Gilbert Burns? They helped him level up his mentality.
“The level I’m at is 10 times further from that day from where Leon grew from there,” Muhammad said.
He watched Colby Covington struggle against Edwards at UFC 296. It stung. But he knew he was next in line for the title shot.
Muhammad can’t help but wonder. What if he had been in the ring that night? He’s sure he would have dominated Edwards.
“If me and Leon were to fight, I would have dominated him, I would have finished him,” Muhammad said. He’s confident. He believes he’s the most dominant welterweight in the division.
He’s got momentum. He hasn’t tasted defeat in five years. He’s got tenacious takedowns, a suffocating pace, and limitless cardio. He’s a tough out for anybody.
“I’m only getting better,” Muhammad said. “Now you’re going to give me a full 12, 14 weeks to fight Leon Edwards? It’s going to be the worst night of his life.”
Rumors are swirling. Muhammad might get his shot at Edwards at UFC 300 on April 13.
He’s got faith in the UFC. He believes they’ll follow through with a promised title fight.
“Dana White’s a man of his word,” Muhammad said. He took a short-notice fight against Gilbert Burns in May. He put his nine-fight winning streak on the line.
“I did all that just because all they had to tell me was ‘you’re next.’ You beat him, you’re next. They told me that I would be next after Colby no matter what,” Muhammad said.
He doesn’t know when the fight might happen. But he’s training. He’s always ready.
“Whatever they tell me, I’m going to pack my bags, I’m ready to go,” Muhammad said. “My mouthpiece is packed, my cup is always packed. So if they tell me they need a pay-per-view in January because Sean Strickland pulled out and these guys need a pay-per-view, I’m ready to go.”