Leon Edwards‘ manager has confirmed that the welterweight champion had indeed been offered three fights on UFC 300, confirming Dana White‘s recent claims. However, despite having agreed to fight all three on the anniversary mega-card, Edwards was unable to secure a fight for the event.

In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Tim Simpson, ‘Rocky’s long-time manager revealed that UFC Chief Business Officer (CBO), Hunter Campbell had approached Leon Edwards backstage after UFC 296. The Englishman had just come off successfully defending his title for the second time against Colby Covington. And the manager asked Campbell what was next for Edwards.

“Right after he fought Colby in December, Hunter [Campbell] came into the back… And I said ‘So what are we doing?’… And he was like ‘300’. And I told Leon ‘you might be on 300’… And I said to Hunter ‘Belal?’ And he’s like ‘we’ll see,'” he said.

In January, Edwards was offered Khamzat Chimaev for UFC 300, to which he readily agreed. However, Chimaev turned down the fight, since the event would take place just days after the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, where Muslims are required to fast every day.

“And then as we got closer, January… they said ‘What about Khamzat Chimaev’? That’s what they were working on. For whatever reason, he couldn’t come he said Ramadan and weight,” he told Helwani.

Simpson revealed that this was the story for the other two opponents the UFC suggested: lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and undefeated welterweight prospect, Shavkat Rakhmonov. “Then call back couple days later, ‘would you fight Islam Makhachev at 170 for the title?’ Leon was like ‘Yeah, lets do it’. And then Islam as well had Ramadan… And then they said ‘can we rely on him if we go to Shavkat?'” he added.

Simpson also revealed that despite him having asked for Belal Muhammad, the UFC snubbed the #2 ranked welterweight for a title bout against the 170-pound champion on the marquee card.

Tim Simpson agrees Muhammad doesn’t deserve to headline UFC 300

Leon Edwards’ manager revealed that he suggested probably the most deserving opponent for ‘Rocky’ to fight next in his conversation with Hunter Campbell: Belal Muhammad. The Palestinian has not lost in his last ten fights and defeated Gilbert Burns in a short-notice bout last year. The #2 ranked welterweight and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz have claimed that Dana White has promised him a shot at the 170-pound crown next.

However, Simpson was confused when Campbell expressed uncertainty over Muhammad, despite him having the best case for a title shot next. “I kind of said to Hunter in the back like ‘Belal?’ And he’s like we’ll see. And I was like what does that mean? Because who else is there?” the manager recalled thinking.

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Simpson speculated that the reason he felt Belal Muhammad was not even considered by the UFC to fight Edwards on UFC 300 was because of the Palestinian’s lack of popularity among fans. “It doesn’t surprise me though. Belal-Leon is probably not the marquee fight you want for this event,” the manager said.

What do you think about the UFC snubbing Belal Muhammad for UFC 300?

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