Belal Muhammad might have been the underdog heading into his title combat towards Leon Edwards at UFC 304, however he shortly proved his championship mettle.
After ready greater than a yr to combat for UFC gold, Muhammad made essentially the most of his alternative with a surprising efficiency to dethrone Edwards and declare the welterweight title. As a lot because it appeared like the chances have been stacked towards Muhammad heading into the combat, one among his former foes had loads of religion that he would turn out to be champion.
Gilbert Burns, the final individual to face Muhammad previous to his title combat, wasn’t shocked by the outcome. He says he predicted the UFC 304 upset effectively earlier than it occurred.
“I form of noticed that coming,” Burns advised MMA Combating. “Particularly [because] Leon is a good fighter, however at any time when he was saying, ‘I’m going to knock this man out’ — bro, it’s onerous to knock Belal out. The man has a chin. Leon Edwards within the final, I don’t know, 10 fights, he has possibly one knockout towards Kamaru [Usman]. Apart from that, he doesn’t knock folks out.
“On method, striking-wise, Leon Edwards may be very, superb, however placing every thing along with the tempo, with the amount, staying in your face with takedowns, soiled boxing, particularly doing the camp with Islam [Makhachev] and Khabib [Nurmagomedov], I form of felt that was the trail for Belal to win — and he did precisely what he needed to.”
On the finish of the day, Burns was one among just a few who foresaw Muhammad’s spectacular efficiency. He anticipated Edwards to place up a greater combat than he did that night time in Manchester, England, however finally Muhammad left little question about his mettle, largely dominating the combat each on the ft and together with his grappling throughout 5 rounds to turn out to be UFC champion.
“I wasn’t impressed — I knew what he was doing,” Burns stated. “He had an extended layoff getting ready for this combat and I feel he was feeding off the [fact that] UFC made him wait, Leon made him wait. He was fed up from that. He was very hungry. He labored tremendous onerous. You noticed he was in wonderful form.
“I simply thought Leon would perform a little bit higher job defending, however I nonetheless [expected to see] Belal overwhelming him with work. Belal appeared superb in changing into champion. Folks can not deny him anymore.”
Instantly after his win, Muhammad began trying towards the longer term, laying out plans to defend his title towards the most important and greatest challenges UFC can throw at him.
Regardless of dwelling within the “cash combat” period the place selecting common opponents generally trumps extra worthy contenders, Muhammad made it clear that he needs to be a preventing champion who takes out the highest contenders in his welterweight division.
That listing probably begins with undefeated wrecking machine Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Burns appreciates that Muhammad acknowledged that instantly.
“He’s a very good champion,” Burns stated. “I feel he’s doing a very good factor going through Shavkat [Rakhmonov], the hardest competitors on the market, whoever is the No. 1 [ranked contender]. I like what he’s doing.”
As a result of UFC has already mapped out the remainder of the schedule for 2024, there’s a very good likelihood Muhammad gained’t combat once more this yr. All the remaining main pay-per-view playing cards are successfully booked other than an official affirmation relating to Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November, after which the year-end card at UFC 310 on Dec. 7.
If Muhammad doesn’t defend his title in 2024, Burns likes the concept of a real No. 1 contender rising with Rakhmonov probably going through one other top-ranked welterweight.
“In the entire division, I feel [Rakhmonov is] the man that deserves it essentially the most, however I do know he was going to combat Jack Della Maddalena,” Burns stated. “That was a very good combat, however Jack nonetheless has an damage on his arm, he had a pair operations making the arm good. But when Belal shouldn’t be prepared this yr, I feel Shavkat ought to do another this yr, possibly [against] Jack or possibly Ian Garry. I feel these are the fellows on the prime. Kamaru is there however it’s three losses [in a row], he form of doesn’t essentially deserve it proper now. Colby [Covington is there, too], however he’s not doing something. Leon, I don’t suppose he deserves a rematch proper now.
“Shavkat towards Jack or Ian Garry would make loads of sense to be subsequent. Shavkat may very well be subsequent if Belal is able to go in Abu Dhabi or in Salt Lake Metropolis, but when he has to postpone as a consequence of these accidents, Shavkat would possibly do another to get it so now we have a transparent No. 1 contender.”
