Belal Muhammad calls for title fight with Leon Edwards after UFC 296

James Herrick / UFC / December 18, 2023

Belal Muhammad calls for title fight with Leon Edwards after UFC 296

At UFC 296, Leon Edwards defended the welterweight title against Colby Covington. After the bout, it did not take long for Belal Muhammad to call for a title shot.

In an interview with Megan Olivi for ESPN, Muhammad gave his opinion on the UFC 296 main event and explained why he should be the next title contender—all quotes via TheScore.

“Honestly, it was a joke to the division,” Muhammad told ESPN reporter Megan Olivi. “That’s what happens when you get a bum off the couch who’s been off for two years, who didn’t deserve the shot. He goes out there, and he didn’t back up the talk.

“For Leon Edwards, you should’ve backed up your talk, too. From what Colby said, he deserved to have his jaw broken. And I thought Leon should’ve went out there, he should’ve embarrassed him and put it on him.”

Muhammad, the No. 2 ranked UFC welterweight, clearly did not enjoy the UFC 296 main event. The bout became emotionally charged after Covington spoke about Edwards’ late father while talking trash. Although, in the fight, the action did not back up the pre-fight drama.

With Covington out of the championship picture, Muhammad is looking for a title opportunity.

“I think the UFC knows who’s next,” Muhammad said. “I need to get in there. I need to make the welterweight division great again. Because I’m gonna come to fight every single fight. I’m gonna be in your face nonstop, 100%. There’s not gonna be no breathing at all for Leon Edwards.”

Edwards’ next challenge with likely be against Muhammad or Shavkat Rakhmonov. It will not be easy to pick between the two options.

Muhammad is currently on a ten-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC. The only fight he did not win in that time came against Edwards. While the two were both rising contenders, they fought to a no-contest after an accidental eye-poke from Edwards led to the fight being stopped.

Rakhmonov is the UFC’s shiny new toy in the welterweight division. The former top prospect has graduated to contender status. At 18-0, he has 18 finishes and six UFC wins.

At this point, Muhammad deserves a title fight more than Rakhmonov; however, Rakhmonov is widely considered more popular and entertaining. That makes the UFC’s choice a difficult one.