3 keys to victory for Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad at UFC 304

As a dedicated gamer and longtime MMA fan, I’ve closely followed Leon Edwards’ and Belal Muhammad‘s careers with great interest. Having watched their first encounter result in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke, I eagerly await the rematch at UFC 304. Both fighters have significantly improved since then, and this title bout in Manchester, England, promises to be an exciting and pivotal moment for both contenders.

At UFC Fight Night 304’s main event on July 27 in Manchester, England, Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight title against Belal Muhammad. This is a rematch of their earlier encounter which ended unsatisfactorily. Initially, Edwards was scheduled to fight Khamzat Chimaev for the main event at UFC APEX in March 2021. However, due to various reasons, their previous two bouts didn’t materialize. Chimaev withdrew three weeks prior, and Muhammad took his place, marking a significant jump in competition for him. Edwards dominated Muhammad on the feet until an unintentional eye-poke ended the second round just 18 seconds in, resulting in a No-contest verdict. Since then, both fighters have progressed, establishing themselves as formidable contenders. Each fighter holds crucial strategies to secure victory in this bout.

Leon Edwards’ UFC 304 keys to victory

1. Footwork

Let’s begin by discussing Edwards, the champion. His initial step towards winning involves having impeccable footwork. This will be crucial when he’s on the defensive as Muhammad Ali will attempt to shoot takedowns and overwhelm him with strikes. Good footwork enables Edwards to maintain situational awareness in the cage and thwart Muhammad’s intended strategies. If Edwards manages to hinder Muhammad from implementing his pressure game plan, it creates opportunities for Edwards to execute his own strategy of applying consistent pressure, as demonstrated in their previous encounter. Alternatively, Muhammad may adopt a tentative fighting style, similar to his performance in their initial bout or mirror Colby Covington’s approach against Edwards during UFC 296.

2. Scrambles

For Edwards, securing victories in grappling exchanges is crucial since Muhammad primarily thrives by wrestling. Muhammad boasts excellent timing for his takedowns, not only when advancing but also while retreating, as demonstrated in his encounter with Vicente Luque in April 2022. Once Muhammad gets an opponent on the ground, his ground control is formidable and difficult to escape from. Given Edwards’ past successes in evading takedowns by accomplished wrestlers like Kamaru Usman and Covington, he is adept at escaping Muhammad’s grappling attempts. Edwards boasts a strong clinch game, relying on damaging elbows and knees, which could prove valuable in fending off takedown attempts in close quarters.

3. Kicks

Edwards possesses impressive kicking skills, which could be advantageous in this fight. He’s careful with each kick, be it to the calves, body, or head. Edwards’ calculated calf kicks could restrict Muhammad’s mobility, making him an easier target for counterattacks as he might overextend because of a previous leg injury. Edwards can use body kicks to control the pace of the fight and make Muhammad think twice before advancing, potentially leaving his guard down and more exposed to headshots. Although Muhammad is known for his durability, he’s historically been susceptible to left-head kicks. If Edwards manages to land a well-timed left head kick, he could create an opportunity to finish the fight.

Belal Muhammad’s UFC 304 keys to victory

1. Wrestle

Muhammad’s strategy for defeating Edwards in their rematch is to use his grappling skills aggressively. In their initial bout, Muhammad failed to execute a single takedown and instead found himself outmaneuvered. However, he has since made significant improvements, making him a formidable threat with unexpected takedowns. When Muhammad presses fighters against the cage, he can catch them off guard by altering his position, allowing him to secure points through ground-and-pound or exhaust Edwards while holding him in place.

2. Checking kicks

A less-discussed strategy for Muhammad’s victory against Edwards is focusing on defending against Edwards’ calf kicks. Muhammad has shown proficiency in this area when opponents have targeted his calves. Notably, Israel Adesanya often faces defeat if an opponent can effectively check his calf kicks, as demonstrated in fights with Sean Strickland, Alex Pereira, and Jan Błachowicz. Calf kicks are a common weapon for kickboxers, and the ability to defend against them can hinder an opponent’s movement and pressure, making it easier for Muhammad to apply his own game plan, including wrestling and outstriking Edwards. Although Adesanya and Edwards differ as fighters, Muhammad could potentially gain an advantage by employing a strategy that Edwards’ previous opponents have not utilized effectively. Effectively defending against Edwards’ calf kicks may take away one of his primary weapons, enabling Muhammad to execute his pressure tactics successfully and potentially outmatch him in striking.

3. Pressure

To ensure victory against Edwards, Muhammad should prevent him from gaining even an inch of advantage. He needs to disrupt Edwards’ footwork and hinder his effectiveness in striking exchanges. Edwards is known for mastering distance and maintaining it, so Muhammad must counter this by closing the gap between them. Their encounter might lead to a grappling match, which Muhammad must dominate by landing more accurate blows in close quarters. It might be challenging for Edwards to outperform Muhammad if he cannot establish a comfortable striking range.

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2024-07-26 23:08