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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 12: (L-R) Opponents Leon Edwards of Jamaica and Bulal Muhammad face off during the UFC weigh-in at UFC APEX on March 12, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 12: (L-R) Opponents Leon Edwards of Jamaica and Bulal Muhammad face off during the UFC weigh-in at UFC APEX on March 12, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Belal Muhammad was given a platform on which he could have become a genuine top contender in the UFC welterweight division. Despite being ranked #13, Muhammad was given a shot against #3 ranked Leon Edwards. ‘Rocky’ has always struggled to get opponents, so he jumped on the opportunity after Belal stepped up to replace Khamzat Chimaev.
However, the fight ended up going awry. Edwards dominated the early goings of the bout and was a convincing winner of the first round. Unfortunately, Edwards ended up connecting with a brutal eye poke in the second round. That ended the fight, which was deemed a no-contest.
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People seem to be rushing to get Edwards in the Octagon against higher-ranked opponents, even though he didn’t beat ‘Remember The Name’. His manager Ali Abdelaziz is furious and is calling the media out.
I guess media don’t give a shit about Belal eyes and his health https://t.co/tZc1Luy5zp
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) March 14, 2021
Abdelaziz also manages top fighters like UFC champions: Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kamaru Usman. Along with that, he manages Cody Garbrandt, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson, Justin Gaethje, Rashad Evans, and Gilbert Burns. He always speaks up for his fighters, so this tweet is very in line with how he addresses the media.
Belal Muhammad: Does he get a rematch with Leon Edwards next?
Belal Muhammad should get a rematch. Ideally, no contests usually see immediate rematches to see which fighter was superior. However, Leon Edwards already believes that Muhammad shouldn’t get a rematch because of the first round. While that is an odd thing to say, it does make sense to many people.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: (L-R) Bulal Muhammad kicks Leon Edwards of Jamaica in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
‘Rocky’ is a highly ranked commodity and the UFC would rather get him highly ranked opponents. Top contenders didn’t want to fight him before the summer, a time period Edwards was unwilling to wait out till. Muhammad stepped up on short notice, but it seems everyone is moving past Belal’s value here.
The money-making aspect of MMA may push Muhammad out of a rematch. However, he does deserve it, even if he was losing after the first round. An unconvincing finish is an unconvincing finish. Do you think a rematch is what’s next for both fighters? Or will the UFC book them against fresh opponents?
