Leon Edwards reflects on his recent loss to Belal Muhammad, acknowledging the challenges he faced during the fight and expressing determination to reclaim the UFC welterweight title, while preparing for his upcoming match against Sean Brady.
Leon Edwards hadn’t faced defeat in nearly ten years until that fateful night against Belal Muhammad last July. It was a tough pill to swallow, losing the UFC welterweight title in such a manner. The fight, which kicked off around 5 a.m., was far from ideal for Edwards. Reflecting on it now, he understands what went wrong, but the sting of losing such a significant bout lingers.
“I let this loss sit with me for a bit,” Edwards shared with MMA Fighting. “I needed to process that I actually lost.” Despite the setback, he found solace in knowing it was a close fight. Muhammad may have taken three rounds, but Edwards secured two even on his worst night. That thought makes it easier to move forward.
Losses hurt—no doubt about it. Yet, Edwards is at peace with what happened. “It is what it is,” he shrugged. He firmly believes he’s the best welterweight out there and is determined to prove it come Saturday night.
This weekend, Edwards steps back into the octagon against Sean Brady. It’s a chance for redemption and to reclaim his spot in title contention. While he’s moved past the loss to Muhammad, there’s still a nagging sense of underperformance that night.
“I watched the fight once after it happened,” Edwards admitted. “It wasn’t me in there.” Watching it unfold was tough, especially knowing he’d beat Muhammad nine out of ten times. But hey, that’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes.
Now, Edwards is laser-focused on becoming a two-time world champion. That’s where his mind’s at—no distractions allowed. The rivalry with Muhammad dates back to their first clash in 2021 when an eye poke halted the bout prematurely. The no contest decision left unfinished business between them.
Fast forward three years; Muhammad finally got his revenge by claiming a unanimous decision win over Edwards in England. Since then, Muhammad hasn’t missed a beat reminding Edwards of their rematch outcome. But unlike Colby Covington‘s trash talk before their 2023 fight, Muhammad kept things professional.
Edwards finds Muhammad annoying—plain and simple. “He’s just an annoying human being,” Edwards chuckled. There’s no personal vendetta here; it’s just their personalities clashing.
Losing the title to Muhammad stung more than usual for Edwards, but ultimately, it was his performance that disappointed him most. “A loss is a loss,” he said matter-of-factly. He’s confident he’s better than what that fight showed.
If all goes well at UFC London, Edwards might find himself vying for the title again soon. Meanwhile, Muhammad gears up for a showdown against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May.
Interestingly enough, Edwards had been prepping for Della Maddalena before plans changed due to an injury suffered by Shavkat Rakhmonov. In truth, Edwards slightly favors Della Maddalena in their upcoming title fight.
“It would definitely mean more to take it back from Belal,” Edwards mused. He’s intrigued by Della Maddalena’s skills but isn’t rooting for anyone specifically. All that matters is getting another shot at the belt—whoever holds it next doesn’t concern him much.
In the end, it’s all about moving forward and seizing opportunities as they come.