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Leon Edwards bemused by ‘deluded’ Belal Muhammad ahead of UFC 304

UFC

Leon Edwards bemused by ‘deluded’ Belal Muhammad ahead of UFC 304

UFC welterweight champion is bewildered by his opponent’s approach ahead of fight night in Manchester.

Leon Edwards is heading into the main event of UFC 304 looking to prove a point and bury a rivalry.

Three years on from their no contest in Las Vegas, Edwards will take on Belal Muhammad in his third defence of the UFC undisputed welterweight title in Manchester, England.

It’s a bout that Muhammad has treated as a personal crusade ever since their first fight was halted due to an accidental eye poke from Edwards. Muhammad has been calling for, and preparing for, a rematch ever since, and has had some interesting things to say ahead of their matchup this weekend at Co-op Live.

Chatting to us during media day in Manchester, Edwards was in super-relaxed mood as he shared his confusion and amusement at how Muhammad seems to be approaching the upcoming bout, and some of the things the title challenger has had to say in the lead-up.

“For some reason, I don’t know what scenario he built in his head,” said Edwards.

“We fought the first time, everyone saw how the fight weight, it ended in an eye poke. Now we’ve got a rematch. That’s the way it starts and ends for me. For him, he’s kind of got this mad scenario in his head where… I don’t know. It’s weird.

“I feel like he’s trying to talk himself into the fight, you know? He’s trying to convince himself that he’s better than what he is. That’s the only way I can see it. I can’t see what else it is.”

Leon Edwards

Simon Head

In a departure from the usual emphatic predictions of a finish that we’re used to hearing from fighters, Muhammad was clear about his aim to “torture” Edwards over the full five-round duration to leave no doubt that he’s the better man, and that Edwards has no answer to his skills.

“It’s a contradiction, right?” said Edwards in response.

“When has he ever tortured anybody in the cage? When has he ever knocked anybody out? Is he going to half-choke me out, let me up, look at my brother, look at my coach. I was like, bro, you’re deluded!

“He came out and said if he beats me – which he won’t – he’s topping GSP. His boxing coach came out and said he’s got the same hands as Canelo. What the hell’s going on. I dunno. It’s a weird thing, but it is what it is.”

The one thing both men have in common is a clear determination to not just win, but to do so in clear, undeniable fashion. While Muhammad is looking to prove people wrong, Edwards is looking to prove himself right.

“I believe I’m better than him,” he stated.

“I feel that I am levels above him. That’s the way I fought, and that’s how I’m going to fight Saturday night.

“I truly believe I’m levels above him, and Saturday night I’m going to prove that again.”

A sports editor and MMA reporter with 25 years' experience in sports media, Simon has covered mixed martial arts since 2009 for a host of national and international outlets, including UFC, BBC Sport, MMA Junkie/USA Today, BT Sport and the Daily Mirror.

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