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Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad preview and prediction

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Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad preview and prediction

As a die-hard MMA fan, I can’t contain my excitement for UFC 304 taking place in Manchester, UK, on July 27. The event promises two title fights, and one of them is a highly anticipated rematch between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad for the welterweight championship.

On Saturday, July 27, the UFC is coming back to the UK with UFC 304 at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena. This event features two title bouts as the main attraction. In the co-secondary bout, Tom Aspinall will put his interim heavyweight title on the line against Curtis Blaydes. The primary event is where the welterweight title holder will make their defense.

Leon Edwards has been the UFC welterweight champion for approximately 700 days now. He claimed the title at UFC 278 with a victory over Kamaru Usman. Following this achievement, Edwards successfully defended the belt once against Usman and another time versus Colby Covington. As Edwards prepares for his third title defense, he will do so in front of his home crowd.

In July 2016, Edwards made his UFC entrance and has remained a consistent presence within the organization since then. He’s now set to protect his title against Belal Muhammad, ranked second. Muhammad boasts an impressive eight victories out of his last nine bouts, making this highly anticipated title fight. However, it’s not their first encounter, as they have previously clashed in the Octagon.

Edwards and Muhammad clashed for the first time in March 2021 at UFC Apex during a main event, replacing Khamzat Chimaev who was withdrawn due to COVID-19. The quick encounter occurred only 18 seconds into the second round when Edwards unintentionally poked Muhammad’s eye, resulting in a no contest. Now, over three and a half years later, they have another opportunity to face off.

In this upcoming match, the pressure is greater for both Edwards and Muhammad. Edwards currently holds the champion title, while Muhammad aims to dethrone him and secure the number 1 spot. Despite their differences, they share some commonalities that will significantly impact their rematch.

Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad preview and prediction

Edwards initiated his MMA career in the pro ranks in 2011, having previously competed in two amateur bouts that very same year. Prior to joining the UFC in 2014, Edwards fought on the British circuit, with Fight UK MMA among his promotions. Conversely, Muhammad began his professional journey in 2012 and entered the UFC fold in 2016. Before securing a spot in the UFC, Muhammad gained experience fighting for various other organizations such as Bellator, Titan FC, and Hoosier FC.

Edwards measures 6 feet tall and his arms span reaches 74 inches. On the other hand, Muhammad is 5 feet 10 inches tall with a reach of 72 inches. Moreover, while Muhammad uses an orthodox fighting position, Edwards favors the southpaw stance. These differences in stature, reach, and fighting style could significantly influence the outcome of their match.

Edwards and Muhammad are skilled practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, incorporating it into their combat strategies. Edwards holds a black belt in BJJ, which he earned under the tutelage of Thomas Bracher. In contrast, Muhammad is a purple belt student of Daniel Wanderley. Additionally, Edwards has experience in wrestling, Muay Thai, and kickboxing. Parallely, Muhammad utilizes wrestling and boxing techniques in his training regimen.

Edwards has achieved 22 victories against just 3 defeats in his career. He hasn’t tasted defeat since the year 2016. Impressively, Edwards has managed to secure victory in each of his last 12 bouts. A significant number of these triumphs, 11 to be precise, were decided by the judges’ scores. Two of his three losses were also judged in favor of his opponents, while the third was due to a disqualification.

Despite the first Edwards-Muhammad bout ending as a no contest, it provided some intriguing insights into their matchups. Edwards displayed an aggressive style, pressing the attack relentlessly. Conversely, Muhammad was compelled to adopt a defensive strategy but failed to keep pace with Edwards’ intensity. The three judges unanimously awarded the first round to Edwards (10-9), even though the fight concluded prematurely in the second round.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: Muhammad is a formidable opponent and a worthy challenger due to his exceptional wrestling skills. His strength on the ground makes him a dangerous adversary. However, Edwards has significantly enhanced his wrestling abilities over the years, which could potentially even out the odds if the fight ends up on the ground. But for Edwards, keeping the fight standing could be an advantage, given his proficiency in kickboxing.

Although Edwards and Muhammad have many commonalities, there’s no denying that Edwards outshines Muhammad when they face off. The opening round of their initial bout served as proof, and since then, Edwards has continued to improve. If these two end up on the ground, Muhammad must ensure his ground skills are top-notch against the champion.

Edwards has been successful in securing more victories through decisions recently. However, he has shown the ability to secure finishes as well. In their upcoming rematch, it’s reasonable to anticipate that Edwards will achieve an uncommon victory by way of a knockout or a technical knockout.

Prediction: Leon Edwards defeats Belal Muhammad via knockout

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2024-07-25 01:13

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