Belal Muhammad shocked everyone by decisively defeating Leon Edwards to claim the UFC welterweight title unanimously. Soon after his win, Muhammad, also known as “Remember the Name,” was called out by No. 3-ranked contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, Muhammad is now focusing on a new challenger, steering away from an immediate rematch with ‘Rocky.’
Initially, the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, with a record of 18-0, congratulated Muhammad on his win on X and challenged him to a title defense. On X, he wrote,
“Congratulations on your well-deserved victory, @bullyb170 ! I hope you keep your word and defend your title against me when you’re ready, champ.”
Belal Muhammad mentioned that he would defend his belt against Shavkat Rakhmonov, ideally in November or December, for his first title defense. He explained that October in Abu Dhabi would be too soon due to injuries and that he needed more time to prepare for the fight against ‘Nomad.’
Fans are waiting for ‘Remember the Name’ to defend his title against ‘Nomad’ Rakhmonov. It will be interesting to see if the UFC decides to make this fight happen. If it does happen, Rakhmonov will be one of Muhammad’s toughest opponents.
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Leon Edwards’ Next Steps After Loss to Belal Muhammad
In his post-fight interview, Edwards mentioned that he plans to have one more fight before the end of the year. Meanwhile, Muhammad’s recent interest in facing Rakhmonov has stirred up a lot of excitement in the MMA community. This indicates that a rematch between Edwards and Muhammad will not happen soon.
Instead, Edwards, also known as ‘Rocky,’ may be considering other opponents for his next fight. Some potential contenders include Ian Machado Garry, Michael ‘Venom’ Page, or Gilbert Burns. Edwards is determined to regain his welterweight title, but we’ll have to wait and see who he ends up fighting next.
Also Read: UFC Abu Dhabi Purse And Payouts: How Much Money Will Cory Sandhagen, Umar Nurmagomedov, And Others Make?`